Book Description

Get an enticing preview of cutting-edge rigs, equipment, tactics, and techniques

Customer Reviews (1)

Classic sailing instructional book
One of perhaps 20 books published in the last 35 years that is considered a true modern classic for any sailing enthusiast. It is truly a book that should be in any comprehensive personal (or organizational) reference library. This extensive book features over 250 pages of detailed (yet practical) text, illustrations, photos, and diagrams. ... Read more

Book Description

Multihulls offer sailors expansive comfort, impressive speed, precise maneuverability, and, in the case of trailerables, easy storage and transportability. No wonder boat buyers and charter clients have begun migrating toward cats and tris in unprecedented numbers.

Multihull Cruising Fundamentals taps into the essence of multihull sailing and gives readers a clear and concise analysis of these largely unfamiliar boats. Chapters one through four provide the skills sailors need to get trailerable multihulls safely into the water, rigged and sailing. Larger, cruising catamarans and their unique sailing and handling needs are addressed in chapters five through eight.

The material in this book was developed by the American Sailing Association's Multihull Committee for use in classes throughout North America. Students will learn quickly and efficiently from Multihull Cruising Fundamentals' "no nonsense," step-by-step format. The knowledge and skills found in this text will prepare sailors to more fully enjoy the most forward-looking boats on today's pleasure boat market. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Text Book for Catamaran Class
I purchased this book as the required text for a two day catamaran class I am taking.It is well written and an easy read with some good tips and suggestions.It covers both trailerable size trimarans, catmarans and cruising sized Cats.As it's title says, it is a fundamentals book.

Multihull Cruising Fundamentals: The Official American Saili
Multihull Cruising Fundamentals is a nice book to get sailors familiar with the idiosyncracies of handling mid- to large size multihulls. CATAMARANS OFFSHORE,a new book by Gregor Tarjan, which will be published in 2004, will continue where Rick White has left off.

Too fundamental, better choices out there.
This book was a complete let down for me.A very shallow and thin book with not a lot of useful information in it.It is simply too watered down and should be renamed "beginers basics for learning to sail your folding trimaran" rather than trying to pretend it tackles the much deeper subjects of cruising.For someone looking to learn the basics I would suggest a better combination of reading Royce's Sailing Illustrated, and then take a look at The Cruising Multihull by Chris White.You will get a lot more useful information both on the beginner and advanced end from that combination than this very weak book gives.

Experienced multihull fan review
This book is intended for people who know very little about sailing, and even less about multihulls.

If you have sailing and multihull experience this book is not for you.

Get this!
At last an intelligible multihull book that you can read & understand almost instantly . Full of practical knowledge and clearly written - you don't needto be a 5-10 yrs skipper or have a PhD in astrophysics tounderstand this lucid book. There are plenty of clear diagrams, safetyaspects are well covered but the authors remain enthusiasticand balancedre multi vs monohull. Thouroughly recommended as an introductory text andfor existing catamaran owners! ... Read more

Book Description
This book describes the psychological strategies the world class sailors use to set goals, manage stress and build confidence.  Part 3 contains photo sequences of sailing-specific exercises that can be used to build an individual training programme.

• Set goals for confidence building and competition.
• Learn effective self-talk and straight thinking.
• Make stress work for you, not against you.
• Harness the power of visualisation.
• Learn to stay focussed so that you can cope with distractions.
• Build and maintain the on-boat relationships that really work.
• Plan your own fitness programme.
• Aerobic and Anaerobic exercises.
• Recognise the value of rest and recovery.

Learn now to train both on the water and in the gym. ... Read more

Book Description

Product Description
The official Racing Rules Rules of Sailing for 2005-2008, including US SAILING prescriptions. ... Read more

Book Description
An invigorating behind-the-scenes look at the world of extreme sailing, The Race is also a taut, engrossing account of the first running of the competition called The Race, which began on December 31, 2000, in Barcelona and ended sixty-two days later in Marseilles. The most intense event of its kind -- a nonstop circumnavigation of the globe in the fastest boats ever built -- The Race attracts some of the world's best sailors and arguably its most eccentric personalities. Tim Zimmermann, an experienced blue-water sailor, relates in knuckle-whitening detail how and why sailors risk millions of dollars and their lives to dash around the world in record time. He garnishes this story with a chronicle of the tumultuous history of extreme sailing from the nineteenth century to today. Zimmermann "puts the reader right on board with the tough, colorful crews as they take a crash course (sometimes literally) in how to handle these astonishing machines" (Derek Lundy, author of Godforsaken Sea). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A great read for the sailor and non-sailor alike
An entire sailing subculture exists whose entire purpose is to see how far and how fast they can push a sailboat and her crew.This book chronicles the ultimate push, called The Race.The object of this race is to be the fastest boat to sail around the world without stopping.

Zimmerman first tells us the fascinating history of fast sailboats and their owner's constant quest for greater speed and longer distances.At first the quest was for commercial reasons.Eventually it became sport.The boats described in this book are its ultimate manifistation.

This is a wonderful book about tough determined people racing extreme boats in extreme seas. A blast from start to finish.

Masterful story set in helpful context
The Race delivers on the promise of an intensely educational and suspenseful read. I learned much more than I expected to about multihull design, sailing history, and the characters involved in circumnavigation adventures, but I was also viscerally "there" during the more stressful parts of the Race itself. Zimmerman provides exceptional context as well as insight into what makes these men and their sailing machines run. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone curious about the quest for speed across the waves.

High Seas Adventure
Although I am not a hard core sailor, I picked up this book because I love adventure. I was glad I did because I discovered a world of eccentric and entertaining characters who kept me engaged and amused as I clipped along with this well-written, fast-paced narrative. I loved the concise history of round the world racing and the crazy characters who got it started--like Blondie Hasler who believed sailors should "die like gentelmen" instead of calling for rescue and endangering the lives of the rescuers. The Race itself was run by the world's best sailors, but it was the hi-tech boats, the tactics and the challenge of the Southern Ocean that really hooked me. A great read for anyone who loves the oceans and extreme adventure.

A sailing book for sailors and non sailors alike
The Race acccurately describes the complex human dynamics, emotional tension, technological achievments, and capricious play of fortune that combined inthe world's first non-stop around the world sailboat race. Beginning with a fascinating and sympathetic account of the early pioneers of round the world sailboat racing, Zimmermann then details the technological conundrums and challenges confronting the computer-aided designers of the Race's catamarans and explains the rationale for, and consequences of, the decisions they made. His account of the Race itself is a skillful blend of analysis and story telling that touches on all the factors that shaped the outcome of the contest, technology, tactical decision-making, human dynamics, and most of all, mother nature, in the form of wind and current. Throughout the book, the author provides just the right amount of technical detail and analysis without overwhelming the non sailor (or weatherman). More important, Zimmermann captures, in terms I believe accessible to the non sailing professional, a sense of the excitement, danger, and spiritual satisfaction that draws men to challenge the sea at her most fearsome. Very few of us can circumnavigate the world non stop in a catamaran, but The Race provides the closest substitutefor that experience this side of Cape Horn and the roaring forties.

Fast Paced, Fascinating and Fun
This is a great book for anyone looking for an interesting and entertaining read.In "The Race", author Zimmermann combines the dynamic story of the 'round the world Race with the intriguing historical context of circumnavigational sailing.He tells the action-packed story of the people and boats involved in the Race, incorporating fascinating detail (did you know the sailors on these high-speed sailing yachts sleep with their feet toward the front of the boat to avoid breaking their necks in the event of rapid deceleration?!) with a fast-paced writing style.If you enjoy adventure books like "Into Thin Air" or "The Proving Ground", "The Race" is for you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent, comprehensive coverage of topics
This is one of the best books on general sailing that I have ever read. It comes in second only to 'Sailing For Dummies' and that is just by a very slim margin. I have both books in my sailing library and between them, Ihave more than enough reference material to cover almost any sailingsituation. This book should satisfy both beginning and experienced sailorsalike. Good job... ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Knot books donýt get any better or simpler than this.
This is the best knot book out for sailors and a great knot book for everyday users.

So, how many knots does one need to know to sail safely?Some say as few as three, but Budworth shows you how to tie over 60 nautical knots, each with step-by-step color instructions.He has an excellent introduction that covers history, tools, terms, material and construction of cord.Each of the diagrams has the knots history, application and a written instruction that 99% of the time is not needed. Budworth breaks down sailing knots into five sections: Stoppers, Loops, Bends, Hitches and Others.Finally, he gives you a glossary, a bibliography of numerous knotting manuals, and tells you how you can join `The International Guild of Knot Tyers".The only thing missing is a section on knot jokes.

Knot books don't get any better or simpler than this.If you are going to buy one book to learn to tie knots this is the one.Highly recommended ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Yangtze thru the eyes of millions
A funny account of one man's cruise down the Yangtze with a group of American millionaires... Insightful, biting humor.An accurate description of tour-isms. ... Read more

Book Description
A biography of one of the most successful racing yacht designers of the 20th century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The 20th Century's greatest yacht designer surveys his life
This is a charming and insightful autobiography by the living legend of20th century yacht design.It is beautifully produced with many gloriousphotographs and illustrations. But its outstanding quality is the warmthand modesty of the writer which shines through his personal account of hiscontribution to yacht design and the highlights of Sparkman & Stephens'record over the past 70 years.Chapters on his early years, the breaks hehad as a fledgling designer, the Americas Cup successes, the wartimedevelopment of the DUKW, his philosophy of design and approach to ratingrules for yacht racing will enthrall a wide readership.

Owners of S&Sdesigned yachts - and many others besides - will doubtless be captivated bythis book.No wonder the first printing is already a sell-out.

A great man's great story
The world's most successful yacht designer and a superstar in the sport of sailing, Olin Stephens writes the story of his long life around boats.There's much here to interest sailors -- including stories of the America'sCup and other key races -- as well as a lot that's controversial aboutracing, racing rules, Dennis Conner, and the Cup.Olin sailed in two Cupwinners, designed six of them, and designed and raced winners of othermajor races.

This is also the story of a fascinating, sensitive, andhumble man, as you can see in the opening sentences:"I was lucky; ihad a goal.As far back as I can remember I wanted to design fastboats."

Engagingly written and beautifully published, this is a bookfor any sailor. ... Read more

Product Description
Caribbean Cruising is the perfect guide for anyone who has dreamt of sailing the Caribbean but is unsure how best to go about it. Authors Jane and John Gibb covers everything one needs to know, offering expert advice on ideal cruising locations, choosing the right boat and equipment, weather forecasts, clothes and supplies, expenses, power needs, health concerns, and local legal formalities. Richly illustrated by Jane's drawings and John's photographs, this book has an answer for every question. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Brief but good.
Caribbean Cruising does not delve into any topics very deeply but does provide a good general overview of cruising the caribbean.Good book for getting the wheels turning. ... Read more

Book Description
The classic guide to catamarans, updated to bring readers the latest for everyman's sailboat. Fast, inexpensive, versatile, and exciting, catamarans are one of America's most popular pleasure crafts. Here is a complete course in catamaran sailing for the beginner and the semi-experienced sailor who wants to become more skilled in the arts of tuning, handling, and racing cats. Included are sections on buying a cat, learning the basics, heavy weather sailing, racing tactics, surfing, and more. Includes a new chapter on how to use high-performance sails. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Excellent and deep... could use better pictures and minor updates
I'm a relatively inexperienced sailer and just getting into catamarans, and have read several other sailing books (and many web sites) but still learned a ton from this one.This one really does focus in closely on things that are unique to cats rather than monohulls.Berman covers almost all the questions I had, and then some, and with clear, concise language and occasional very detailed lists of stuff you need or steps to take, which were extremely helpful.Minor complaints: 1) the pictures are low quality and often shot from too far a distance or in lighting (or print quality?) that makes it tough to see what you care most about or what the caption is talking about;2) Last revision was 1999 so it doesn't say much about what's different about the newer Hobie rotomolded hull boats I'm looking at (Getaway and Wave), or some of the more modern accessories I see in sailing catalogs.But overall, unless you're a veteran cat sailer, I'd bet you could benefit from many things in here... and if somewhat new to it, this is absolutely a great resource.

Catamaran sailing1 required reading
For anyone interested in catamaran sailing specifically - this is a comprehensive overview from purchasing decision factors to advanced racing techniques, and everything in between. The information is provided in an extremely user friendly format - the book is a joy to read - highly recommended for those considering starting cat sailing, just beginning cat sailing , or ready to race catamarans.

Great Beginner Book, that's it
If you are considering buying a cat or have never sailed, this is a fine book.Info on standing up the mast putting the sails on, etc.If you know anything about sailing (can leave a spot and hit land somewhere else), this isn't the book for you.Tons of generic information on buying a boat, sailing and turning a boat.Hardly any specifics on any boat.I was very dissappointed.I was expecting a little bit on batten tension, rig tension, etc.Book briefly covers mast rake, shifting gears, and other itermediate set up techniques, but does not give much specific information on "if you do this, this will happen"

Catamaran Sailing: From Start to Finish
This book is aimed at a novice sailor, covering all the basics about sailing, such as various points of sail and tacking and gybing.I did find information that I wanted in 2 chapters about sailing cats off the beach and surfing cats.So if you are a novice, a very good book, if you are experience, seek other sources.

It's all here!
This is the best complete book on catamarans I've found yet. Great illustrations and all sorts of practical information on everything including all the basics. A truly great reference book! Good effort! 5 stars plus.... ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
The foundation of Christian belief is paradox: death is the beginning of life, foolishness is the pathway to wisdom, the meek conquer the strong. Everywhere we look we see mysteries piled upon mysteries, and for all our efforts to fit God into a box that makes sense, Christianity is not founded on common sense. Author and storyteller Steven James navigates this magical journey through the ''uncommon sense'' of faith in Jesus. Through his captivating style and arresting stories, James helps readers become more comfortable with a faith full of truth and mystery. With breathtaking writing, he shows readers a God who is illogical, unreasonable, unrealistic, and incredibly and unmistakably true. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A mix of prose, poetry and prayer-poems
Steven James is primarily a storyteller, and a professional one at that. So whenever you notice that he has written another book, you can pretty much expect to find stories inside, and that's true of SAILING BETWEEN THE STARS --- a book full of stories about his family, his friends and his experiences that help illustrate his "musings" on faith in all its mysterious glory.

If, like me, you're the kind of reader who actually checks out the table of contents first, you'll be pleased to know that James is as cryptic as ever with regard to the chapter titles. "Thoughts on Dung and Grace" and "The Monk, the Chainsaw, and the King Tut Life-sized Sarcophagus Cabinet" certainly are attention-grabbers but are no competition for "Joy on the Front of My Pants." That one sounded vaguely familiar and turned out to be a story I once heard him tell in some other context. Still funny, though.

There is a point to all this storytelling, and that point is to try to make sense of the life of faith that James and other Jesus-followers have embraced. As he points out, it's a life filled with paradox and incongruity and mysteries we will never solve this side of heaven, abounding with questions about why God allows the innocent to suffer and all that. And as he also points out, he doesn't have any more answers than the rest of us do; he is simply inviting us along as he contemplates such things as...the navel (honest!) along with somewhat larger issues. (The navel thing really does have a spiritual point, and a fairly dramatic one at that.)

Occasionally, James surprises us, and probably himself as well, with some extraordinary insights. One of the most profound involves the story about the time when Jesus as a boy was inadvertently left behind in Jerusalem and eventually found in the Temple. Like most of us, James took that story at face value --- until he began looking at Scripture through a different lens. These days, he writes, "I look for the struggle, for what doesn't fit, for what goes wrong, for the things that truly set the story in motion." He assumed this particular story was about Jesus naturally wanting to be in the Temple --- his Father's house. Then James "started looking for...the heartbeat of the tale, and I realized this story is about something else entirely." That "something else" is truly revealing, but I'll let you discover that for yourself; let's just say that James believes the story is not about Jesus at all.

And make sure you don't skip the chapter titled "Lost in Space," in which James considers Jesus's teachings about giving freely to others. I'm still musing on that one, along with its image of a God who "doesn't seem too worried about being taken advantage of." No doubt about it, James gives us a thing or two to think about.

Fans of James's previous books, particularly STORY: RECAPTURE THE MYSTERY, will not be disappointed in this release. Like STORY, SAILING BETWEEN THE STARS offers a mix of prose, poetry and prayer-poems. Poetry is a tough sell, and James's style may not be to your liking. But the prose more than compensates for that and makes the book a worthwhile read.

--- Reviewed by Marcia Ford

INSPIRATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING
In his best book to date, Steven James invites readers to muse with him on the mysteries of faith. Through evocative essays, humorous stories, and a light sprinkling of poetry, readers can explore what it means to go beyond human understanding of our Creator.

As a father of three daughters, James shares some of his most intimate family moments, sure to bring laughter from parents who are also in the midst of raising a family.

The title of the book comes from a midnight sailing excursion the author took with a guy named Hollywood. "As we eased forward into the night, it was almost as if we were sailing between the stars," James writes (p. 38). "I loosened my grip and began to enjoy my ride through the galaxy."

If you're not yet a fan of this inspirational storyteller, after reading this book, you will be.

--Reviewed for Christian Women Online Book Buzz

A gift to the soul
"Sailing Between the Stars" has been a gift to my soul... and to my faith.Most of my Christian years have been spent trying to decipherthe undecipherable, reason out the unreasonable and comprehend the incomprehensible.And I've found that it's in those times of perplexity that I draw closer to my Creator as I seek not just to know ABOUT him, but to truly KNOW him.

This book by Steven James reassured me that it's all right to not understand everything about faith and God.That those attempts to unravel the mystery of mysteries provide opportunity for deep fellowship with the God of the universe. And somehow, by embracing the mystery, I've come away with a greater understanding of God than I ever set out to gain.

I highly recommend "Sailing Between the Stars."Steven James' storytelling talent makes it a great read that lets you welcome the challenge of living in the unknown mystery that is faith. To quote James, "The dance of life is as mysterious as the wind twirling through the trees, and we're never going to be able to grasp all of its nuances."

Steven James, please keep musing, and please keep writing.I'll keep reading.

... Read more

Book Description

"Doris Colgate knows what women want. Well-known as a sailing role model and a confident yet gentle teacher, she writes with clarity on even the most complex sailing concepts, as well as answering often-asked questions on the safety, comfort, and social sides of sailing. Sailing: A Woman's Guide pulls it all together for the beginning sailor. Finally, an excellent book for women that both teaches and motivates. Bravo, Doris. You've opened up the sport." --Bernadette Peters, editorial director, Cruising World

"It took a person with her fingers on the pulse of women aspiring to sail to write this book, and that person is clearly Doris Colgate. Sailing: A Woman's Guide is as much a source book as empowerment to women the world over desiring to become sailors." --Micca Leffingwell Hutchins, editor of SailNet

"An excellent introduction to the sport of sailing. It will undoubtedly encourage many women to try this challenging, noncontact activity while enjoying the great outdoors."--Betsy Alison, Four-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year

"This new series is designed to teach outdoor skills to women in the way they learn. . . . Women of all ages describe how they overcame obstacles, what they enjoyed most, or just how they felt about undertaking a new activity . . . extremely well done and appealing." --Library Journal (starred review) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fun and facts of sailing made real, through women's voices.
What if you'd been introduced to sailing by a group of wise woman friends, all exceptionally skilled sailors and consummate psychologists, who anticipated your learning pace and nudged you on to triumph with gentlegood humor. Impossible? What if someone combined the on-water wisdom ofhundreds of women into the only sailing instruction book to address how youlearn and incorporate information? That's exactly what this book does.Doris Colgate, president of the National Women's Sailing Association,called her book "a gallery of profiles," stories of women who'vemade sailing an important part of their lives. Her gallery, a gathering ofvoices, is what makes the book unique. At every level of sailing, crucialinformation is made real by women's voices or amplified in a sidebar,explaining how someone mastered the skill. The reader is never left staringat a mysterious paragraph, wondering what the author meant. It helps, too,that there's a thorough index, and you can look up sailing terms in theircontext instead of in a brief glossary.The book handles how-to-sailinformation professionally: basic material is clearly organized and wellillustrated. But the basics haven't changed and they aren't genderspecific. It's the presentation differences that strike you, such ashearing someone admit she had doubts about heeling boats, then explain howshe learned to control the boat and her fears. That's what we need--therationale for a new and, at first, daunting activity.The author, who'soperated a sailing school for over 20 years, calls on her substantial troveof anecdotes from the beginners, women who've learned good lessons in hersailing courses, and the experienced women who've presented their wisdom atNWSA boat show seminars Colgate organizes. To add intrigue, Colgate addstips and attitude from some of sailing's celebrities--women racers,long-distance cruisers, authors and editors whose words appear throughoutthe book. I've often given friends who want to learn sailing oneparticular how-to book, hoping they'll get into the sport. Now, I'll givethe women, and some of the men, Doris' new book instead. ... Read more

Product Description
Navigation is the science of establishing your position and managing your yacht's progress with a minimum of risk and a maximum of enjoyment. Coastal Navigation's visual layout, full of graphs, charts and diagrams, covers chartwork, aids to navigation, tidal heights, tidal currents, estimating your position, electronic navigation aids, poor visibility and many other topics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good for Non-Map readers
If you don't know how to read a chart, this book is for you. It has comprehensive information necessary to learn about coastal navigation. Not a good replacement for actually being on the water and seeing the things charts show but a good book for the basics. ... Read more