Conference unifix::sailing

    
    Hi John,
    
    Welcome to sailing.  A few ideas to help you pass the long winter:
    Sign up for the Coast Guard Auxiliary and/or US Power Squadrons
    courses.  The introductory courses have very nominal fees for
    materials.  In addition to learning, you'll meet other folks with
    similar interests.  
    
    Regarding books, I've a few suggestions.  However, I'd try to borrow
    them from my friendly library - many aren't really worth owning.
    Also, I haven't paid much attention to sailing primers recently
    and there may be some other good books available.  I haven't seen
    any one book I'd consider excellent on the subject.  Here's my
    abbreviated list which should get you started:
    
    	Basic Sailing by M. B. George 
    	Hand, Reef, and Steer by Richard Henderson (he has several others)
    	Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousmaniere ( more along the
          lines of Chapman's Piloting, Seamanship, and small Boat Handling
    	The Craft of Sail by Jan Adkins (very basic, but nice drawings) 
    
    Happy reading.  I'm sure others will have more suggestions and comments.
    
    Steve
       
    
      

    I'll second the recommendation on Henderson's Hand, Reef and Steer.
    I like his writing style and would recommend his other books as
    sort of "background" material. 
    
    If you're a hardware freak like me, it might be fun to send away for
    the Schaefer or NicroFico catalogs. they have diagrams of the different
    ways boats can be rigged. NicroFico has a great section on sailing
    with a spinnaker 
    
    Also, you might subscribe to SAIL magazine. They run articles for
    for all levels and types of sailors. Use the cards they have in
    the back to get literature on different types of boats and equipment.
    (I like stuff like that!) If you use different variations of your
    name you can track the mailing lists they sell you to.
    
    Welcome!!
    
    Ed

    I would also recommend Stephen Colgate's Fundamentals of Sailing,
    Cruising, and Racing.  While not exactly in tutorial form, it 
    covers the material well -- and rarely makes unwarranted assump-
    tions as to the level of your previous knowledge.  Also, even
    though you may not be interested in one of the major sections
    (e.g., you might be interested in Cruising but not Racing), each
    section has information of interest.  For example, although I
    am not personally particularly interested in racing, that's 
    where he includes a discussion of spinnakers -- which can of
    course be used at other times as well.  Enjoy.
    
    Don Gregory

RE: .0

I agree with -.1 that Colgate's book is great.  Another book
I like is by Bob Bond, I don't remember the title, something
like Handbook of sailing; it is a thick hardcover book.

If you're into how a sailboat works, a book titled "Sail Power"
gives quite an in depth look, but is more difficult than I
can understand in many places.  

If you're starting to learn racing, "Racing edge" by Ted Turner & Gary
Jobson is great too.

/tom

PS I'm not a sailor, just interested in how sailboats work.