Hi everyone, this is my first post on SailNet. I'm learning how to sail, took UCLA's Sailing I class and California Sailing Academy's level one class as well. What's the best book to have as your "second" sailing book? I own "Start Sailing Right", by Derrick Fries (pretty good, but basic), and "Sailing Fundamentals", by Gary Jobson (more thorough, but poorly written and edited). What would be a good book that covers some topics past the basics?
Best book for high beginner?
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The book I've recommended for years is David Seidman's The Complete Sailor, which is about $16 at the local bookstore.
Very well written, with good illustrations and covers a very wide breadth of sailing topics, history and theory in a fairly small book.
Very well written, with good illustrations and covers a very wide breadth of sailing topics, history and theory in a fairly small book.
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If you plan to do any extended offshore sailing, a good book to read, which will give you an idea of how many things can go wrong - all at the same time - is John Rousmaniere's Fastnet, Force 10, the Deadliest Storm in the History of Modern Sailing you can find it on Amazon from $0.84 to $11.
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A very good book, but we're not trying to scare the poor guy off of the sport before he learns to sail...
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Well, there are other books, but it depends on what your eventual sailing goals are. Are you planning on racing, then there's a set of books geared towards that... are you planning on cruising, then there's a set of books geared towards that.
The best books in the world (and you have a couple of good ones already) won't teach you to sail as well as you just getting out on the tiller and doing it. Then, the books will make more sense.
I learned to sail without any books. Now, I teach it sometimes, with books. But sailing is more of a physical skill than an academic one. Both are necessary, but the way to learn sailing is to go out and sail. Then look at the book, and you'll realize what the theory is.
I learned to sail without any books. Now, I teach it sometimes, with books. But sailing is more of a physical skill than an academic one. Both are necessary, but the way to learn sailing is to go out and sail. Then look at the book, and you'll realize what the theory is.
I don't think I'll ever become a competitive racer, but I'd probably want to join some amateur races here and there just for fun. My main interest is cruising.
I'm in L.A., so I'd be going to Catalina Island, Channel Islands, probably up and down the coast some. But I'll also want to charter boats in locations such as the East Coast, Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean etc. in the future.
I don't think I'll be doing a lot of long offshore passages, but you never know.
I'm in L.A., so I'd be going to Catalina Island, Channel Islands, probably up and down the coast some. But I'll also want to charter boats in locations such as the East Coast, Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean etc. in the future.
I don't think I'll be doing a lot of long offshore passages, but you never know.
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I agree that you can't learn to sail by reading a book, BUT they certainly do help. When I learned it was through a town course two days a week. I loved it so much that when I wasn't sailing, I would read everything I could about to teach myself more and more. Then when it was ready for the next lesson I could actually feel and see how what I read actually applied and worked. PLUS when you get bitten by the bug all you want to do is imerse yourself in anything sailing you can so a big part of that is laying in bed at night reading about sailing. SO he is right by saying to learn more get out and do it! but also read as much as you can about it.
One of the newer books I actually really liked is the New Complete Sailing Manual
Amazon.com: New Complete Sailing Manual: Steve Sleight: Books
It has a little bit of everything from dingy sailing to basic keelboat to boat maintenance, cruising, nav, etc. I'm pretty young (25) so I liked the fact that the book was newer and also had many photos and diagrams. This got me started but then I basically read everything under the sun about boats and sailing.
nk235, I was bitten by the bug! Can you see that my posts are about 3 minutes apart from each other? I'm currently reading a beautiful book by the Smithsonian Institute, simply called "Ship", about the history of ships. Incredible pictures!
Can you see that my posts are about 3 minutes apart from each other? I'm currently reading a beautiful book by the Smithsonian Institute, simply called "Ship", about the history of ships. Incredible pictures!
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Shadrak -haha - You are like me then! Since the day I started sailing 4 years ago I have become obsessed with it! I think about it all day and read everything boat and sailing related I can. Also my gf makes fun of me because I am on Sailnet every single chance I can. She laughs because I reach for my labtop first thing in the morning during the non sailing season to check the posts!nk235, I was bitten by the bug!
This site is a great source of information as well. I have received so much help from so many of the great members about problems and questions about my boat. Congrats on taking the course and getting the bug! Also welcome aboard Sailnet!
-Nick
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Agree with NK 235.
The New Complete Sailing Manual: by Steve Sleight is the one to see you through your first 3/4 years of sailing. Once you start crossing oceans you will need a complete library!!
The New Complete Sailing Manual: by Steve Sleight is the one to see you through your first 3/4 years of sailing. Once you start crossing oceans you will need a complete library!!
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Heh-heh. I thought the same thing LB. But then at what point are you actually experienced enough to convert the bilge pump to a water pipe?
I've read "Heavy Weather Sailing", "Desperate Voyage", "Fastnet: Force 10", a book about the '98 Sydney/Hobart Race, and "Elmo Likes Sailboats". The last one was freakin' insane. He just kept saying "Elmo like pfds" over and over. Respect for that fuzzy mofo.
I've read "Heavy Weather Sailing", "Desperate Voyage", "Fastnet: Force 10", a book about the '98 Sydney/Hobart Race, and "Elmo Likes Sailboats". The last one was freakin' insane. He just kept saying "Elmo like pfds" over and over. Respect for that fuzzy mofo.
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Right on Shad. As for the books - I suppose it depends on what you want to focus on. I like big sailing - so I'm drawn to the disaster books. Some like splicing. Some like navigation. Some like mechanics. And some like smuggling.
Read it all.
Read it all.
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If a more comprehensive sailing instruction book / manual by Rousmaniere, read The Annapolis Book of Seamanship.
Jack
Unless you already have one, get a book on basic navigation and also get the charts for the area you sail in. Before you go anywhere, study the relevant charts, looking for the locations and numbers of bouys, where rocks are and where the deep water is.
Sailing is great! Getting lost on the water or worse, NOT!
Sailing is great! Getting lost on the water or worse, NOT!
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