The Accidental Sailor - Rod Heikell

Rod Heikell's memoir chronicles two transformative voyages that launched an unexpected maritime career. Beginning in 1976, he navigated a modest 20-foot yacht through the French Canals and Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean, reaching Corsica, Italy and Greece despite minimal equipment. A decade later, he piloted an 18-foot Mirror Offshore down the Danube behind the Iron Curtain to the Black Sea and Aegean—arguably the longest journey such a modest vessel had undertaken. These audacious expeditions on small yachts with basic gear fundamentally shaped Heikell's trajectory, leading him to author acclaimed sailing guides across the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and global cruising routes. A compelling narrative of seamanship, discovery and the serendipitous moments that define a life at sea, this accessible account captures both the perils and profound rewards of small-boat exploration.