The Complete Sailing Manual

Description

Whether you’re a novice or experienced skipper, everything you need to know about sailing is in this book.  A market leader in sailing guides, the fourth edition of The Complete Sailing Manual is packed with informative text from former British national champion Steve Sleight, and includes a foreword by Olympic gold medalist Sir Ben Ainslie. Steve Sleight’s expert advice is brought to life with breathtaking action photography and clear illustrations. This invaluable guide offers extensive coverage of sailing practice, including foiling catamarans, apparent wind sailing, long-distance cruising, and electronic navigation. From tying knots and boat care to vital equipment, learn all you need to know to become a sailor and boat owner. Further your understanding of the sport and develop your technique with information on the science and physics of sailing a boat. The Complete Sailing Manual also shows you how to become a confident competitor with tips on the etiquette, rules, and techniques of racing a course. Packed with essential information, handy diagrams, and step-by-step artwork, this is only sailing handbook you need when out on the waves. Contents 5 FOREWORD 8 THE JOY OF SAILING 10 Introduction 12 FIRST PRINCIPLES 20 Safety Afloat 22 Parts of a Boat 24 Essential Equipment 30 How Boats Sail 32 The Main Controls 36 Points of Sailing 40 Ropes and Knots 42 Blocks and Tackles 48 Oars and Paddles 50 Moving Small Boats 52 Staying Clear of Others 54 Weather Basics 56 Inland or Sea 58 SMALL-BOAT SAILING 60 Choosing a Small Boat 62 Protective Clothing 66 Rigging the Boat 70 Reefing a Dinghy 76 Helmsman and Crew 78 Turning Forces 80 Going Afloat 84 Launching a Dinghy 86 Basic Techniques 88 Tacking 92 Jibing 96 Sailing a Course 100 From and to the Shore 104 Mooring and Anchoring 110 Coping with Capsize 112 Man Overboard 118 Stowing After Sailing 120 ADVANCED SMALL-BOAT SAILING 122 High-performance Boats 124 Improving Your Technique 128 Sailing Exercises 134 Using Trapezes 138 Tacking and Jibing 142 Spinnakers 146 Handling a Spinnaker 152 Asymmetric Spinnakers 154 Single-handed Sailing 158 Small Keelboats 162 Sailing Small Keelboats 164 Moving Small Keelboats 166 Catamarans 168 Sailing Catamarans 172 Foiling 176 Tuning Your Boat 178 Rough-weather Sailing 184 Racing 188 CRUISER SAILING 194 Starting to Cruise 196 Choosing a Cruiser 198 Cruiser Design 200 Stability 204 Rigging and Sails 206 Above Deck 210 Down Below 214 Protection Afloat 218 Cruiser Ropework 224 Basic Sail Skills 230 Using the Tender 236 Preparing to Sail 238 Handling Under Power 240 Handling Under Sail 242 Tacking 244 Jibing 246 Sail Balance 248 Reducing Sail Area 250 Increasing Sail Area 254 Berthing 262 Marina Berths 268 Rafting Alongside 272 Berthing Bow- or Stern-to 274 Pile Moorings 276 Moorings 278 Anchoring 282 Passage Making 288 Avoiding Collisions 294 Running Aground 298 Man-overboard Procedure 300 Sailing at Night 304 Sailing in Fog 308 Rough-weather Sailing 312 NAVIGATION 316 Starting to Navigate 318 Charts 322 The Compass 326 Plotting Equipment 330 Navigation Instruments 332 Pilotage 336 Tides and Tidal Streams 342 Shaping a Course 348 Plotting a Position 352 Fixing a Position 356 Passage Skills 362 WEATHER 366 Causes of Weather 368 Weather Systems 370 Daily Changes 374 The Effects of the Land 376 Storms 378 Fog 380 Forecasting 382 Beaufort Scale 386 PRACTICAL BOAT CARE 388 The Hull 390 The Deck 394 The Rig 396 The Sails 398 The Interior 400 Electrics 404 Plumbing 408 Engines 412 Running Repairs 418 STAYING SAFE 420 Emergency Repairs 422 Distress Signals 426 Abandoning Ship 430 GLOSSARY 432 INDEX 438 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 448