Book excerpt: 'When I was first invited by a new – and handsome – man to the local Yacht Club to see his boat, I happily conjured up alluring pictures of me in an expensive bikini and a great suntan. It didn't occur to me that 'see my boat' might actually mean going out in the thing... Before she knew it, Angela Rice had agreed to a sailing trip on the notorious west coast of Scotland – and to marry her skipper. The voyage did nothing to allay her primal suspicion of anything afloat. But years later, one sunny Boat Show day, she discovered the lifestyle lure of powerboats – so much less daunting than their sailing counterparts. She cajoled her man into crossing to the dark side, with wild promises of becoming competent. And slowly but surely, reluctance gave way to relish, scepticism to skippering, the Solent to the Seine... Originally published as a series in Motorboat & Yachting magazine, and illustrated with wonderful cartoons by David Semple, this is a funny and engaging account of one woman's relationship with the sea, a boat and her husband.