Table of Contents
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
Helimsman 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
Todes 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