Armchair sailing...

[Wardy]

As a total novice and expecting to be able to take to sailing like an optimistic duck to water, after a couple of lessons; with the hope of finding that elusive first motor sailer... What is 'the' must read publication that will answer all my questions about navigation, chart reading, sails, ropework and on and on?
Is there an "Everything to do with Sailing" book?

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[StugeronSteve]

Nope, it would take a lifetime to write.

Tom Cunliffe's "Complete Yachtmaster" is pretty good though.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I might draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[dralex]

Agree about that book. Very readable and also a bit more interested in the pastoral care of people on boats ie feed the crew, how to deal with sea sickness etc. Also tells you how sails work if you ever get the urge.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[DogStar]

"Offshore and Coastal Navigation" Also by Tom Cunliffe. Just for the Nav, obviously.

<hr width=100% size=1>I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!

 

[Dave99]

I think a good book to start with is the Dorling Kindersley Complete Sailing Manual, by Steve Sleight.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I have the MacMillan silk cut yachtsmans handbook.

Covers everything without making you want to slash your wrists of boredom. A nice reference manual covering everything you ask. Very well written section on weather too.

ISBN 0-333-43824-8

hope this helps



<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[ongolo]

For all things technical, radar nav etc, the bowditch manual, all 880 pages of it.

Down loadable for free search google for Bowditch or pub109 (I think??) 40MB

also Brian Toss Riggers Handbook.

regards ongolo


<hr width=100% size=1>So what......... it floats

 

[pc_eye]

There is a book but that's mostly in your own head. Having said that try buying the book " The RYA book of the Intrnational Certificate of Competence" by Bill Anderson. You won't learn it all in one go but it's handy as a reference. As far as sailing the boat is concerned the sails act as a propeller. You blow on it and it goes round. "The world in the case of a boat". Sail between or very close to the green and red bouys marking channels and you won't go far wrong. By the way you try and drive on the right if possible. Heck it's not a black art, get in and go.

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[Peppermint]

Try the "New Glenans Manual" It covers all of the basics from dinghy to cruising, met. deckwork, nav, pilotage, ColRegs, tactics, crew care the lot.

It's the book I wish I'd read at the start. Unfortunatly I learnt everything I know about sailing from the "Old Harry" writings of JDS.


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