Sailing Literature

[michiganmatt]

I'm looking for more information about sailing. I have been reading a few books about sailing/sailors, and I am looking for books on sailing and navigation. General information to overall navigational knowledge. Thanks for your time!

[JPA Cate]

Go to your local library. There's a whole Dewey Decimal classification for books about sailing. Have fun. Get the librarian to help.

Ann

[thomm225]

The Barefoot Navigator is a good book:

The Barefoot Navigator: Jack Lagan: 9781574092325: Amazon.com: Books

or you can just buy a GPS and a chart.

Books on sailing: Youth by Josef Conrad, Adrift by Steven Callahan, Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi, The Dove by Robin Lee Graham, Cape Horn to Starboard by John Kretschmer, Outerbridge Reach by Robert Stone (be careful with this one), Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana (seasickness description is awesome)

and if you want to know how to sail it's like this:

picture a boat pointing to the top of the page. The wind is pointing down the page. As the boat comes off the wind the sails are in tight. The boat will start moving forward at about 30-50 degrees off the wind depending on the boat. As the boat points further down the page, the sails come out further.

Okay, now you are set. Get a sunfish and practice gaining knowledge from your experiences. Then read other books plus throw in a little racing and you'll be set.

Another way to learn sailing is by watching videos.

I'm thinking the crewman on this boat is bringing it back down there in the beginning after the gust with downhaul alone. Downhaul helps flattens the sail decreasing power and decreasing drag if you are a racer. (he also probably derotated the mast but don't worry about that now)

On a cruising boat it may take 15 plus seconds for it to take effect, on a small boat or racing catamaran it's instantaneous!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_kPYP_30VE

[thomm225]

Here's another awesome video of one of the 2007 Americas Cup Races. Now they cannot cross the start line until the clock counts down to zero. If they do, it's a penalty. The first leg is into or upwind. Check their sails. See how tight they are in. When they round the mark, they will head back downwind.

Sorry it's not in English but it really doesn't have to be.................it's so well recorded.

Btw leeward boat has right of way as does the boat on starboard tack. This is critical during the prestart. If you foul, you lose. Also Alinghi is the faster boat and it is well known now in the 6th race. So how do you attack if you are New Zealand?

32 America's Cup 5Di9 Alinghi Vs New Zealand (3-2) 29.06.2007.avi - YouTube

[tbodine88]

Best way is find a sailing or yacht club near you, hop on a boat as crew, ask lots of questions.
Experience is best teacher, especially with saltier sailors along.

[michiganmatt]

Thanks everyone for the recommendations! I picked up "barefoot navigator" and should be crackin it open in the next day or two when I wrap up "dove"

cheers!

[rebel heart]

Annapolis Book of Seamanship and Bowditch's American Practical Navigator.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by michiganmatt

Thanks everyone for the recommendations! I picked up "barefoot navigator" and should be crackin it open in the next day or two when I wrap up "dove"

cheers!

You may want to get Robin Lee Graham's 2nd book. I believe it's called Home is The Sailor. He had a very tough adjustment. He couldn't even drive the new car he was given, didn't fit in well at school, etc so he had another journey so to speak. Pictures:

https://www.google.com/search?q=robi...iw=572&bih=466

The movie was pretty bad, but Deborah Raffin is in it..................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xmz9UpN5t4