Getting Started in Sailboat Racing

by Adam Cort, Richard Stearns

Overview

A complete course in the fundamentals, Getting Started in Sailboat Racing dispels the sport’s elite aura and makes racing accessible to any sailor who wants to give it a try. This illustrated manual takes readers around the buoys, explaining the rules and tactics that govern starts, finishes, mark roundings, and boat-to-boat struggles for speed and advantage.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071782623
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	09/02/2004
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	17 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Adam Cort (Costa Rica) is a contributing editor to Sailingmagazine and a lifelong sailor.

Richard Stearns (Chicago, IL) is an America’s Cup veteranand a career sailor, sailmaker, and boatbuilder.

Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter 1—Welcome to the Racecourse A Hypothetical Race The Course Flags, Guns, and Other Signals The Rules Q & A Chapter 2—Starting Basic Tenets of Starting Starting Strategies Q & A Chapter 3—The Windward Leg Sailing Smart on the Windward Leg Playing the Shifts More Tips/Rules for the Beat Q & A Chapter 4—Windward Mark Roundings The Rules at the Mark Approaching the Mark Boat Handling at the Windward Mark Q & A Chapter 5—Downwind Legs/Reaches Sailing Dead Downwind Reaching Legs Rules for Sailing Downwind Q & A Chapter 6—Leeward Mark Roundings and Finishing Rules at the Leeward Mark Strategies at the Mark Finishing Q & A Chapter 7—Basic Tactics and a Few Tricks Smart Port-Starboard Crossing Covering and Passing Downwind Knowing Where to Go Q & A Chapter 8—Weather How Weather Works Weather Sources and Race Day Q & A Chapter 9—Boat Speed, Part 1: Sail Controls and Concepts Balance Sail Shape: The Jargon Sail Controls Mast Tuning New Sails: How Do You Know Your Sails Are Good Enough? Q & A Chapter 10—Boat Speed, Part 2: Sailing to Windward The Way Sails Work to Windward Putting Sail Controls into Action A Quick Look at Keels Q & A Chapter 11—Boat Speed, Part 3: Sailing Off the Wind Sail Trim to Leeward Spinnakers A Quick Downwind Trimming Guide And Now . . . The “Disappointment” Q & A Chapter 12—Getting Involved Kinds of Racing Finding a Fleet Yacht Clubs: Should You Join? Buying a Boat Q & A Epilogue—Some Final Thoughts Appendix Resources Outline of Racing Rules Glossary Index