The second edition of this comprehensive guide was updated and re-issued after the first edition quickly sold out soon after publication in 1997.It is still the only comprehensive guide covering the entire West Australian coast from the Northern Territory border in the Bonaparte Gulf to Eucla in the south. In between there is almost 21,000 kilometres of coastline for mariners to navigate around, falling between the southern latitudes of the southern ocean and the northern latitudes of the tropics.The scope of this enormous cruising ground makes this guide an essential reference for anybody who ventures away from port on the wild west coast of Australia.

The west coast offers some of the most remote cruising in the country; the guide is sectioned geographically working from north to south, which seems to be the preferred route for circumnavigators who tend to travel anti clockwise.Understandably, much space is dedicated to cruising the spectacular wilderness of the Kimberley region.With little in the way of infrastructure, ports or urban facilities, it is an area that requires a good deal of preparation before venturing too far from either Broome or Darwin.Prominence is therefore given to the challenges of travelling through a remote region that is dominated by tides ranging up to 10 metres.

But it is also just as handy for those that do most of their cruising in southern climes south of Fremantle. Maps throughout the book are clear, concise and easy to read in just two colours. A colour section of photographs in the middle of the guide showcase some of the best anchorages detailed by contributors. Binding is clearly of a superior quality and the book is capable of handling some cockpit maltreatment inherent on a long coastal passage. The Western Ausstralian Cruising Guide is a quality publication that should be onboard every vessel venturing 'out west'.

Verdict: Highly recommended
Review by Fiona Harper
Reviewers Note: An updated third edition was released in late 2008.