Changing Course : A Woman's Guide to Choosing the Cruising Life

I felt that this book would be a great source of information and inspiration for women faced with this life changing decision.

From my prospective, it provided me with a greater understanding of what my wife was struggling with in making my dream of cruising a reality. Through our discussions surrounding this book, we have now reached a common goal of cruising that will be exciting for both of us.


Woman cruisers, share your experiences   November 19, 2001
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

As a female cruiser and sailing gal, I found "Changing Course" a useful guide. Although I seem to be in the minority, (I sought out the cruising partner,) rather than the usual - mate of the cruiser "going along for the ride," I learned some valuable lessons in Debra Ann Cantrell's book. I actually read it already a year into my first voyage. Yet, the chapters on managing fear and interpersonal dynamics were especially useful. You can't take enough skills along with you. The chapter on ways to make cruising more rewarding also proved to be fun! I was excited to see just how many I had already accomplished. I'm now working on # 48, and of course, #23 is underway again!
Debra, thanks for writing a useful guide for women!
-Nancy Birnbaum - svsaga@pocketmail.com


No Holds Barred   August 28, 2001
 22 out of 22 found this review helpful

Because my husband and I plan to go cruising within the next couple of years, I have tried to read everything I can get my hands on concerning cruising from a woman's perspective. Most of what I've read was either written by men extolling the virtues of cruising for women, or they were scary travelogues by women about huge waves, wet bunks, and life-threatening injuries. Deb Cantrell's book tells it like it is from a wide variety of female perspectives. She shows both the good and bad about cruising from the women who have done it, some more successfully than others. Instead of being a cruising "how to", she focuses on what is to be gained, as well as what one risks losing, by taking the plunge. I am especially grateful for the section on fears, as I now know that many of the fears I have about this lifestyle change are shared by women of all ages. The author also provides valuable insights and suggestions for dealing with those fears in ways to which women can relate. But the most special aspect of this book is the fact that it draws on the experiences of women of all ages, economic circumstances, and sailing skills. The rich diversity of comments and experiences makes this a truly invaluable resource for the cruising "wannabe" and the more reluctant among us. Without belaboring the point, I can't imagine being realistically prepared to move aboard and cruise without having read and reread this book until it's tattered.


Partnership understandings   March 1, 2001
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

"Changing Course" is about partnerships in life, from roommates to spouses, and how they can resolve their differences and make the most of their togetherness. It is about the fear that resides in each of us, and how that fear can not only be calmed, but how it can be replaced with understanding, with hope, and with enjoyment. It is about how the individual can become an understanding, sharing, and contributing partner. I cried when I read the book, and am crying now as I try to describe what it would have done for us, over the past 50 years, as we struggled through life style changes without help. When my wife decided that the cruising life style was the answer to her fears of eternal entrapment in an unpleasant environment with a workaholic husband, my fear of leaving my business and associates did not allow a rational discussion of how to resolve our differences. It took a separation, counseling, and a great deal of pain before we could agree on a plan to go cruising. How very much easier it would have been with "Changing Course" as a guide to expressing our fears to each other, and how those fears could be overcome. Anyone, and everyone, who truly wants to understand what partnership is all about, needs to read and discuss this book with the partner, then rejoice in the growing depth of the relationship. And that is not all. Ms. Cantrell is a very erudite writer, and just researching her epitaphs has provided pleasures seldom found in a book today. Her work is easy to read, and most rewarding.


An Ocean of Information!   November 11, 2000
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I couldn't put it down! This book is NOT just for women, but for COUPLES considering 'cruising' or any major life change for that matter. The author shares a personal side of herself along the way which is both unique and comforting. Ms. Cantrell certainly allays any fears or trepidation in taking that foreboding step - in fact, she thorougly convinces one to GO FOR IT! An excellent read!