The International Marine Book of Sailing

I own a LOT of sailing books and I strongly feel that this one is a must read. I personally prefer it to Annapolis; it is more modern and the layout is clearer and the illustrations far better. Every chapter is well written and the input of Nigel Calder and Perry are interesting to say the least. It really covers all aspect of sailing from the basics to advanced and I really like the cruising and voyaging part and the review of the boat mechanical and electrical system. The book does an excellent job comparing different kind of sailboats (cruisers, racers etc..)and giving examples and even estimated prices... Excellent review also of the different keels, rudders etc...The racing section is really long for us cruisers, but I am sure there are people who will enjoy it.Overall excellent book, maybe in the next edition the writer can expand more on Tacking cones; Velocity made good etc...

It is quite apt to say that this book can get you started with sailing and keep you sailing for a lifetime. The book starts of with the basics, sailing a simple boat with a single sail. It them progresses gradually to advanced techniques and concepts required for all kinds of sailing ranging from racing to leisure to long distance cruising.The book is very comprehensive and explains concepts well. I think it could better handle the large vocabulary of sailing terminology, perhaps listing terms in boxes on the side. That would be my only minor complaint.While you could use this book by itself to learn to sail, it would complement learning to sail from an experienced sailor.

This book is absolutely amazing! Short of actually getting out on the water and sailing, or taking a traditional class, this book does a great job of teaching the basics of sailing a boat. It is laid out in step by step chapters that walk you through the basics, and get you up to advanced skills you will need to know including navigation and weather.It is a large book, with many illustrations, photos, and references. You will want to keep this book handy on your boat for when you do not have internet access, and need to remember what a certain buoy looks like.

After reviewing several books on sailing from the library, purchasing several books, and most recently purchasing this book.....this is the best we have found.Simple to help us as new to the sport of sailing, but detailed enough to really help gain better understanding of the technical details for optimum sailing.This is a must buy if you are new to sailing, have just bought your first sailboat, or perhaps even if you are moving up in sizes....and now learning more on sail size and other details involving bigger boats.Good buy, you will not be disappointed.

Provides an overview of all things sailing, from sailing dinghies to offshore boat selection. Well written and presented with better than average photos and diagrams. Accessible I think for folks new to sailing, but enough detail to fill in a few gaps and serve as a reference for folks with a bit more experience.

This is a very thorough book on sailing and seamanship. The photos and diagrams are updated and easy to understand. Overall, this seems like a good book for those looking to enhance their knowledge of sailing or for old salts looking for a quick reference.

Pages are packed with information for beginners intermediate and seasoned sailors

As a novice sailor preparing to crew on my first off-shore race, I was scrambling to learn everything from the nomenclature to dynamics of a sailboat. This book clearly explains most if not all of that, and provides loads of information on how to actually sail. Recommend it wholeheartedly.