Sailing For Dummies

by J. J. Isler, Peter Isler

Overview

Interested in learning to sail but feel like you’re navigating in murky waters? Sailing for Dummies, Second Edition introduces the basics of sailing, looks at the different types of sailboats and their basic parts, and teaches you everything you need to know before you leave the dock.

In Sailing for Dummies, Second Edition, two U.S. sailing champions show you how to:

• Find and choose a sailing school
• Use life jackets correctly
• Tie ten nautical knots
• Handle sailing emergencies (such as capsizing and rescuing a man overboard)
• Launch your boat from a trailer, ramp, or beach
• Get your boat from point A to point B (and back again)
• Predict and respond to water and wind conditions
• Read charts, plot your course, use a compass, and find your position at sea

Sailing for Dummies shows you that getting out on the water is easier than you think. The authors keep the sailor-speak to a minimum where possible, but give you a grasp of the terminology you need to safely and effectively communicate with your crew. A textbook, user’s manual, and reference all in one, this book takes the intimidation out of sailing and gives you the skills and confidence you need to get your feet wet and become the sailing pro you’ve always wanted to be. Anchors away!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780471791430
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	06/06/2006
Series:	For Dummies Books
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	442,001
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

JJ Isler won Olympic sailing medals in Sydney and Barcelona.

Peter Isler is a writer, TV broadcaster, and sailor who won the America’s Cup twice as navigator aboard Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes.

Read an Excerpt

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Table of Contents

Introduction.

Part I: Before You Get Your Feet Wet.

Chapter 1: Ready, Set, Go: Time to Start Sailing.

Chapter 2: Knowing Where You Can Learn: Classes and Sailing Schools.

Chapter 3: Planning Ahead: What to Wear and What to Bring.

Chapter 4: Before You Leave the Dock.

Part II: Casting Off and Sailing Away.

Chapter 5: Going Sailing: Just the Basics, Please.

Chapter 6: Leaving the Dock (And Coming Back).

Chapter 7: Safety: One Hand for the Boat, One Hand for Yourself.

Chapter 8: All about Weather: Red Sky at Night.

Chapter 9: Navigation: Holding Your Course.

Chapter 10: Anchors Away: Anchoring Your Boat.

Part III: Sailing Fast: Taking Your Sailing to the Next Level.

Chapter 11: The Need for Speed: Sailing Fast.

Chapter 12: Trimming Your Sails for Speed.

Chapter 13: Racing Sailboats: Going for the Gold.

Part IV: Sailing Away for a Year and a Day.

Chapter 14: Encountering Sailing Emergencies (And How to Handle Them).

Chapter 15: Caring for Your Craft.

Chapter 16: Cruising with Children.

Chapter 17: Chartering: Changes in Latitude.

Chapter 18: Sailing Sailboards.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 19: Ten Nautical Knots and How to Tie Them.

Chapter 20: Ten Questions to Ask Yourself When Buying a Sailboat.

Part VI: The Appendixes.

Index.