From Family to Crew is the true account of Dr. James Ellingford and his family as they embark on a remarkable journey with Pendana, a beautiful vessel designed for open-ocean cruising.

When James Ellingford and his wife purchased their Nordhavn 62 in 2011, they did so with the intent of finding a safe, capable vessel that could take them and their young family comfortably across the ocean, so that not only could they experience and learn about the world from the perspective of the sea but also write about their adventures and reveal to others the risks and rewards involved in embarking on such an adventure.

Ellingford and his wife have owned several boats over the course of their lives, but none so impressive and capable as Pendana, their Nordhavn 62. The doctor and his family purchased the boat and decided to write about their experiences over the first year of ownership, feeling that it would have been helpful for them if such a book was available at the time that they decided to buy Pendana.

From Family to Crew shows anyone interested in voyaging with their families that it may be challenging at times yet absolutely possible for a couple with no real hands-on knowledge or experience of crossing oceans, to successfully own and operate such a sophisticated vessel.

Ellingford’s account of his adventurous first year holds nothing back, offering brutal honesty about the myriad of challenges he and his family worked hard to overcome. Many obvious aspects of boat ownership are thoroughly covered, along with others that one might not even think of before purchasing such a boat.

Ellingford’s story is all the more compelling given the aspect of his family’s role in the maintenance and use of Pendana. While there are many stories about a man alone with his vessel, the presence of a wife and children gives the book a much more interesting and unusual twist that will appeal to a wide range of readers. How will they deal with the usual pressures of family life compounded with the notoriously difficult life at sea? How will the doctor and his wife learn how to confidently operate the boat enough to justify its purchase? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this exhilarating firsthand account of life with Pendana.

Throughout the book, readers can sense the enormous amount of affection and respect the family hold for their boat. The Nordhavn 62 is one of the most highly regarded oceangoing vessels on the sea today, and Ellingford calls her “not simply a boat, but a way of life.”

The story reads much like a captain’s log and doesn’t leave much out; after all, Ellingford also seeks to reassure the reader that there are some aspects of Nordhavn ownership that aren’t so difficult. It was his hope that anyone else deciding to purchase a Nordhavn, or any complicated vessel for that matter, might use his story as a guide on what to do and what not to do. Says Ellingford: “The purpose of this book is to provide a frank, candid and honest overview of [our] family’s first twelve months on the good ship, Pendana.”

This book is a real treat for one’s senses, a pictorial feast for one’s eyes, a great reference tool for one’s library and a must have for all those who love Nordhavns and boating in general. With the book’s Foreward written by Mr. Ken Williams, Nordhavn owner and well-known blogger (“kensblog.com”) one quickly gets the sense of the quality that is held within. With over 150 full colour images the story really comes to life.

This book is a tremendous reference for all owners of any boat and, in particular, is a great scribe for any dreamer out there intending one day to set out on the high seas.

About the Author: Dr. James A. Ellingford is a retired corporate executive who loves to continually challenge both himself and his family. He and his wife have both grown up loving the ocean and boats and have owned many vessels together over the years. None have been so impressive and daunting as Pendana. Ellingford calls Pendana a “real step up” for his family in terms of size and equipment and not so much a boat as a “way of life.” He is fortunate enough to be able to dock Pendana in beautiful Bobbin Head Broken Bay, just north of Sydney, Australia. For more on Pendana and the Ellingford family’s incredible first year of ownership, please visit www.pendana.net and www.pendanablog.com.

To PREORDER your copy now go to http://pendana.net/pre-order_book, scroll down and click on the PayPal button. Book is due to ship mid-March.