The dream of owning a boat capable of sailing to exotic shores is common though relatively few take even the first step toward fulfilling their fantasy. Too Cold for Mermaids is the story of attaining and ultimately living that dream. It is also a tale of disappointment, defeat and the unexpected realities of cruising aboard a sailboat. The author describes how he became a member of the local sailing community, learned the necessary terminology and technology, acquired the skills, and found the funding to select and equip the boat of his dreams. As a crew-member aboard other boats, then as skipper of his own, the writer recounts his experiences on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, the North Atlantic from Labrador to Florida, as well as the Hudson River and Erie Canal. Some days on the water are relaxing, others challenging, but every day is memorable. It’s not knowing what’s beyond the next wave that imbues sailing with adventure. The unexpected beauty of nature, dramatic changes of weather, coastal ports and their inhabitants, tense pea-soup encounters and sudden equipment failures – all these things and more add to the excitement of cruising. When the days are strung together into a decade-long memory, they form a great adventure, even when the end result bears little resemblance to the original dream. A must-read for those whose fantasy is cruising under sail; a useful guide for converting dreams to reality. Armchair mariners will enjoy this wide-ranging introduction to a world of adventure – a narrative that’s exciting, sometimes funny, and occasionally distressing.