John Kretschmer is sailing's practical philosopher--as much a doer as a thinker. And that is the overarching theme of this chronicle of a sailing life. Often amusing, sometimes poignant, occasionally terrifying but always inspiring, his deeply personal account is a welcome reminder about the good life waiting at sea.

With hundreds of thousands of nautical miles under his keel, Kretschmer's adventures have taken him several times around the world, with challenging crossings of the Atlantic and the Pacific, a narrow escape from a coup in Yemen, an unlikely deliverance from a coral reef off Belize, as well as more serene, introspective passages where trade winds are blowing and stories are flowing. His crew has included CEOs, actors, writers, teachers, kids--in essence, everyone.

Kretschmer's narrative is interwoven with practical tips and advice on seamanship, but also, and just as importantly, his hard-won insights about making the most of our lives. He truly believes we find out who we really are, and what we are capable of, offshore, where we find a place where time changes shape--days may merge into one another, but minutes are memorable.

To live adventurously is to live more fully, and that is the life John Kretschmer continues to experience. In Sailing to the Edge of Time, Kretschmer shares his simple profundities that will inspire those who live to sail, and those seeking something more rewarding from life.