This is the story of a Florida banker and his wife,

a college professor, who decided in mid-life to

quit their jobs, to sell their home, and to spend

the rest of their days cruising in different parts of

the world. Not just another nautical adventure

story, this book instead is the story of one

couple s carefully planned realization of a dream

shared by many but lived by relatively few. It is

also a celebration of their boat, the ketch Mis-

chief, One of the best-known custom-built ocean

cruisers of the 70 s.

In boat living, the Vogt s have found a reason-

ably self-sufficient, independent sort of life, a

life stripped of much of the stress, complexity,

and artificiality of urban living. At the same

time, they know that successful voyaging re-

quires mastery of many new skills and the

reorganization of one s personal, business, and

financial aflairs. These things the Vogts have

done. Altering Course is full of good advice not

only about deck seamanship, anchoring secure-

ly, and equipment, but also about how they ve

managed their new lives afloat. The Vogts tell

from first-hand experience how best to handle

shoreside assets, arrange for money in distant

ports, and be relatively sure of getting mail,

wherever you might be going.

Central to the Vogt s adventure is Mischief her-

self. Mr. Vogt provides a step-by-step explana-

tion of how Sparkman & Stephens designed this

ketch based on his own requirements, of how

she was built of aluminum in Holland and then

began her extensive voyaging.

For those planning to do some serious cruising

or those who hope to do so some day, Mr. Vogt

provides both sound instruction and a healthy

measure of inspiration.