Top 10 MUST read books for sailing

[Hardhead]

Originally Posted by Mikado

I just read Off The Grid, a fun book about sailing that wasn’t at all technical but I could apply a lot of the stories to my current and future sailing life.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546581340..._1pMAEbJWMA7JS

I bought that book last year - just for the beautiful cover picture.

As has been said - it's more about a low stress philosophy and lifestyle than strictly sailing. It's perfect for that.

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Given you are starting from scratch, I would suggest something from the Competent Crew and Day Skipper syllabus of the Royal Yachting Association or the US equivalent, before any of the above. Learn the basics first.


https://www.rya.org.uk/shop/pages/pr...-handbook-sail

Where is NOLA

Pete

New Orleans (Nutra rat capital of the world)

[Gilligan8]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Given you are starting from scratch, I would suggest something from the Competent Crew and Day Skipper syllabus of the Royal Yachting Association or the US equivalent, before any of the above. Learn the basics first.


https://www.rya.org.uk/shop/pages/pr...-handbook-sail

Where is NOLA

Pete

Sorry, New Orleans, Louisiana

[OBT]

"The boat who would not float" by Farley Mowatt. Not a technical manual but a must read for any real sailor.

[AndyEss]

Two Years before the Mast.

Why?

Dana’s description of a virtually uninhabited California coast in the 1820’s should inspire anyone to sail out and try to find what’s left of an over-populated planet drowning in its own plenty.

Get it while you can - and leave no trace for the next intrepid voyager.

[svchinamoon]

«*Sell up and Sail Away*» Bill Cooper. If I remember correctly it has practical info as you prepare to make the change.

[fatherchronica]

I would suggest you mix it up with technical books and cruising destination books. Until you have a boat to sail 77 to 81% of the technical books will make little sense. I do not use too many technical books anymore but 46 years ago I bought a little 50 year old double ended ketch without ever having sailed on a boat. I taught myself to sail in less than a 1/2 hour on a small lake in an 11 foot styrofoam Snark and the following weekend sailed to Anacapa or Santa Cruz, I don't remember now. I had two books in the cockpit for probably a year " Sail Trim" and "More Sail Trim". There is a ton to learn, but it is a pretty easy thing to do. I still reread my favorite sailing books on occasion. I like the old books most, before the distant anchorages were full and there were electronics and engines and charts of everywhere, but liked having all that stuff when we were cruising full time. We did learn celestial navigation but just because my wife and I like math and astronomy. She was better than me at most of it partly because she took higher math in school and I didn't and my math was for construction. Although an aerospace engineer taught me trigonometry over the phone one night so I wasn't too dumb. I still have probably a hundred sailing books.

[Nord Sal]

Royce's Sailing Illustrated

[fatherchronica]

Yes, Royce's, 40 years ago I came across a stack of new copies at a bookstore for a buck apiece and gave them out to people who approached me about the sailing life.

[Captain Anthony]

Will you all list the top ten sailing movies?

[Spot]

Originally Posted by Captain Anthony

Will you all list the top ten sailing movies?

“When I was your age, television was called books.”
― William Goldman, The Princess Bride

Does anyone read / reccommend Colgate's Basic Sailing Theory?

[motion]

May be out of print. Hand reef and steer.
All you need to know to sail a boat.

[anacapaisland42]

THE BIBLE OF CRUISING
Bob & Nancy Griffith



Blue Water: A Guide to Self-reliant Sailboat Cruising


The Griffiths draw from their experiences in the course of three circumnavigations to offer sailors sound advice on what makes a yacht seaworthy or unseaworthy and to reveal their innovative, self-reliant approach to long-distance passage making
Bill



















QUOTE=Gilligan8;3093121]The title is misleading because I have nothing to offer (this would come as no surprise if you knew me

I came here looking for this info and was surprised that there was no sticky for something like this.

I did the obvious search and mostly what I found was other threads saying, "This comes up a lot, you should search."

I'm new to the sport/adventure and in fact haven't even settled on a boat yet, but the wife and I attend to liveaboard (her immediately in NOLA and I to join her in a few years maybe on another better boat to do real cruising).

In the mean time we will need to learn "all there is to know" about sailing.

I've been watching lots of youtube videos but I want to get my hands on some paper!

I'm certain this comes up too often, but a sticky would help that problem. [/QUOTE]

[keyway]

Moitessier .The long Way. For the dreamer in all of us.

[rbk]

As others have mentioned Chapman’s, Nigels books and I always like the nostalgia of Hiscock’s cruising under sail.