The book was due to be formally launched at the Cruising Association on 7th March, with a publication date of 31st March.

Priced at £14.95, it has the ISBN 1 898660 89 1, and is a previously unpublished book by the author of Swallows and Amazons creator Arthur Ransome, describing his honeymoon cruise on the waters of Latvia in 1924, with his new wife, Evgenia, who had previously been private secretary to Leon Trotsky.

Illustrated with the author's own photos, the book is a combination of autobiography, travel and history, which should appeal to sailing enthusiasts and Ransome fans alike.

Also new from Fernhurst is The Laser Campaign Manual , abook that breaks new ground in that it contains a CD showing the author - Ben Ainslie - in action, with his own voice-over. As Davison points out, it's also very unusual to have a gold medalist give away his secrets - in fact Ben refused to do the book until after the Olympics.

In April Fernhurst publishes Team Racing , into which, explained Davison, a huge amount of work has gone preparing the diagrams. "We a re very grateful to The Eric Twiname Trust and to Rondar Boats for their assistance in publishing this one", said Davison.

In May, Fernhurst publishes the latest in the Companion series - The Diesel Companion . This is by Pat Manley, PBO 's engine consultant, and comes in a splash proof format.

Team Racing 2nd Edition , bySteve Tylecote, is a 128 page book with 93 diagrams. The new paperback is priced at £14.95, and has the ISBN 1 898660 85 9.

As many readers will know, team racing is a sailing match between two teams with three boats in each team. It is a sport in its own right, is fun, and is an excellent way to improve your boathandling and tactics in other forms of racing. As Davison highlights, the tactics are very interesting - rather like chess at sea, and the manoeuvres are fierce.

This book describes the tactics and the way the rules influence those tactics. This second edition is fully updated to take into account the new 2001-2004 rules.

The author is a former Firefly National Champion and has also won the World and National team racing championships. He was captain of the UK 'A' team for the Worlds and for the British American Cup and the BA cup.

Davidson says the key selling points for this particular title are that its is applicable to team racers in dinghies or keelboats; is well illustrated with diagrams and photo sequences; covers skills, rule analysis and team organization. What is more, it is currently the only book on the subject.

Ainslie tells all The Laser Campaign Manual by Ben Ainslie, the Olympic gold medalist, comes in at 96 pages, with 202 colour photos plus the CD-ROM. Available as a paperback, it is due to be published on 31st March, and bears the ISBN 1898660905.

As explained above, in his new book, Ainslie explains how to win in this, the most competitive class. Superbly illustrated, with colour photo sequences of Ainslie in action, it is accompanied by the CD-ROM, with footage of him demonstrating every manoeuvre from starting, tacking upwind to downwind technique.

Ben Ainslie has become a household name since he won gold at the Sydney Olympics, and his duel with Brazilian Robert Scheidt was one of the games' most memorable images.

He previously won a Silver medal, and has been World, European and national Champion in the Laser Class. After the Olympics, he was awarded an MBE for his success.

Fernhurst's marketing department says the selling points of this title include the fact, of course, that it is written by an Olympic Gold Medallist who also happens to be the fastest Laser sailor in the world; there are no less than 170,000 Lasers in the world; and the book is printed in full colour throughout.

The Diesel Companion - splash proof and idiot proof guide to all types of marine diesel The Diesel Companion by Pat Manley comes in at 24 pages with around 100 colour drawings and is in a splash proof, spiral bound card, format for ease of use.

Available from 31st May onwards, and priced at £7.95, it bears the ISBN 1898660913.

The title covers the key elements to keep your diesel engine running, and is suitable for use with any vessel with a marine diesel engine.

Pat Manley runs a mobile diesel engine maintenance course and acts as an independent technical consultant. He is Practical Boat Owner 's resident expert, and is also Yachtmaster instructor and runs a RYA course training school.

Selling points Fernhurst says it believes the selling points of this title include the fact that Manley is a recognized "expert", and that the title provide easy step by step "prevention and cure", troubleshooting, servicing and winterization.

Sail the Atlantic Circuit with Adlard Coles Among the new titles now available from Adlard Coles Nautical is Sailing an Atlantic Circuit , by Alastair Buchan.

It is every sailor's goal to cross the Atlantic - and to complete an entire Atlantic circuit by sailing the tradewind circular route, with the highlight of a Caribbean cruise on the way, is the stuff that dreams are made of.

This particular book is intended for sailors planning to join the Atlantic loop at any stage of the circuit, and is an informative user-friendly guide that will provide the reader with all the facts, first-hand advice and useful data they need to give their dreams substance.

Adlard Coles says that all the topics covered are the result of Alastair Buchan's experience of what worked for him. There is information on preparing your boat, stocking up, route planning, taking on crew, living aboard, paperwork, making your gear work harder for longer, security, heavy weather strategies, disaster management and a table of costs - as well as useful appendices.

As Buchan says in his introduction: "Both cruises were a steep learning curve. I have tried in this book to include all the information, hints and tips I would like to have known before I sailed.

I do not expect everyone to agree with everything I say (no one ever has) but I hope that this book will give you some useful advice based on practical experience that will help to see you safely and happily across the Atlantic. May you learn from my mistakes".

Now published, Sailing an Atlantic Circuit is priced at £16.99 and is available as a paperback, bearing the ISBN 07136 5998 X.