Racundra's First Cruise

Racundra’s First Cruise is Arthur Ransome’s account of Racundra’s maiden voyage, which took place in August and September 1922.  The cruise took him from Riga, in Latvia to Helsingfors (Helsinki) in Finland, via the Moon Sound and Reval (Tallinn) in Estonia and back. 

His first book on sailing, it was also the first of his titles that achieved such high levels of success. Although reprinted many times in various editions and formats, Fernhurst Books’ hardback edition of the title (2003) was the first to use the original text in its entirety - with the original layout, maps and photographs - and also includes an excellent introduction by Brian Hammett containing a treasure trove of previously unpublished writings, essays and photographs. Ransome’s first attempts at Baltic sailing, in his two previous boats, Slugand Kittiwake, are also explained in detail using his writings and illustrations. The life of Ransome’s beloved Racundrais chronicled to its conclusion and there is an explanation of how he came to write the book. The original illustrations are enhanced by the inclusion of present day photographs of the same locations. 

Having gone out of print in 2012, this new paperback edition retains all of the original and additional features; bringing back to life Ransome’s epic first cruise in his pride and joy, his treasured Racundra. 

“One of the most popular sailing yarns ever written.” The Independent

“Ransome makes us share his pride in his ship, and the thrill of satisfaction that is felt in picking up the landmarks.” The Times Literary Supplement

"Ransome has managed to get a true yachtsman’s enthusiasm into his pages, and his readers will enjoy his vivid account of streering with a defective compass and his frank confession that he went to sleep at the tiller.” The Observer