Practical Yacht Skills

Mainsail Trimming. An illustrated guide to successful mainsail trimming for power and acceleration on a yacht or a dinghy. Mainsail trimming is one of the most physically and mentally demanding roles on a boat. It is also one of the most important requiring understanding of sail shapes and the controls used to achieve them. This book explains everything you need to know about fine mainsail control without blinding you with science. Sailing terminology has been reduced to the bare minimum and the book is concerned only with making your boat go as fast as possible.

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Jib Trimming - An Illustrated Guide. Jib trim is critical to a boat's speed. This book de-mystifies the black art. It uses plain language and crystal-clear diagrams and photos to teach the concepts and show the sailor exactly what to do. There is no other book this specific - or this useful!

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Sails for Cruising - Trim to Perfection 2nd edition. How to trim cruising sails therefore giving speed and a well-balanced boat. Using spinnaker s and cruising chutes safely. Plus choice and care including repair of sails. PB. 96pp.

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Illustrated Sail & Rig Tuning. A slim but concentrated and thoroughly well illustrated - full colour throughout - manual which systematically shows you how to trim your sails and tune the rig. This English translation of the original Norwegian publication has been greeted by rave reviews in USA and UK. PB. 80pp.

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Rigging. Everything you wanted to know about the mysterious art of rigging but were afraid to ask. Rigging covers every aspect of standing and running rigging on a boat. It explains the role of every part and how they influence each other. Easy step-by-step guides explain how to choose and fit your equipment before going on to describe how to tune your rig to achieve better performance. Alternate configurations are examined and the bewildering array of lines simply explained. Where calculations are used they are kept easy and straightforward to understand.

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Sails and the Way They Work 2nd ed. This fascinating little book contains all the information you need to design, make and repair or modify your sailplan and sails. With the aid of computer programs available free by post using the coupon in this book it is all so much easier now than it was in the bad old days. B/w drawing and photos. PB. 192pp.

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Sails for Racing. For yachts and dinghies including asymmetric spinnakers. Plus a useful fault-finder chapter. PB. 112pp.

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Gaff Rig Handbook 2nd ed. Regarded internationally as the definitive book for anyone designing- building- rigging or sailing a gaff-rigged vessel. This was originally published some 30 years ago and now in large format softcover it is still the only book solely devoted to gaff rig. Fascinating historical background as well as practical information. PB. 240pp

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Practical Junk Rig [PB] Now in paperback for the first time. Practical Junk Rig examines the design and aerodynamic theory behind junk rigs and discusses how best to sail them. PB 256pp.

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Sail Performance - Techniques to Maximise Sail Power. Both technically brilliant and intellectually penetrating this book examines all the factors which affect sail power and concludes that the bermudan rig - which dominates the current sailing scene - is by no means the most efficient available. Read on ! A thumping and challenging tome. HB. 416pp.

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Sailpower - Trim & Techniques for Cruising Sailors. A practical book in full colour throughout (photos and drawings) based on a highly-rated series of articles in YM magazine. Written for cruising sailors rather than racing types it covers every aspect of how sails interact with the wind and the boats hull with the aim of helping the reader get the very best out of his sails. Includes how sails work- essential sail trim tips- boat balance- keeping moving in light airs- heavy weather trim and techniques- spinnakers for cruising- tuning the rig- reefing system improvements- running rigging- troubleshooting and care. Pb. 160pp.

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Sail Trim - Theory & Practice. Sail trim is the art of setting sails in response to the varying conditions imposed by the wind- waves- boat speed and desired course. Regarded as something of a black art good sail trim can mean the difference between winning and losing a race or reaching harbour before the tide turns. This book demonstrates the skill of good sail trim with the aid of superb colour diagrams and photographs. This enables racers and cruisers alike to sail efficiently and get the most out of their boats. Taking account of all types of wind condition the author explains: aero and hydrodynamics

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Nicolson on Sails - Cruising and Racing Sail Tips. Cruising and racing sail tips and good ideas for everyone here - from an author with over 30 years as a yacht designer and sailmaker. PB. 128pp.

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Sail Trim and Rig Tuning (Sept) Captain's Quick Guides. On the water, when questions arise there's no time to search through an exhaustive manual. The Captain's Quick Guides provide all the answers--fast. Based on the world's largest boating library this laminated Quick Guide presents 14 color panels of authoritative concise information on sail trim and rig tuning designed for onboard quick reference.

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Sail Trim and Rig Tuning (Sept) Captain's Quick Guides. On the water when questions arise theres no time to search through an exhaustive manual. The Captains Quick Guides provide all the answers--fast. Based on the world's largest boating library this laminated Quick Guide presents 14 color panels of authoritative concise information on sail trim and rig tuning. Designed for onboard quick reference.

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How to Trim Sails. This practical guide covers the equipment necessary for sail trimming as well as tuning the rig for varying conditions. Masthead- swept-spreader- fractional- fractional with running backstays and dinghy rigs are all explained alongside easy-reference trimming tables. PB. 128pp.

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Sail Trim Disc. A cunningly designed revolving disc within a sleeve in stiff water-resistant laminated card which enables you to adjust sails and rig according to point of sailing and wind strength. Eventually of course you get to know what's best. This is an ideal boatspeed aid for the not-so-knowledgable. Useful ISAF racing signals also printed on the back cover.

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Tuning Yachts & Small Keelboats. Lawrie Smith - a great helmsman skipper on the UK scene - advises on how to adjust mast and sails for maximum boatspeed. Careful reading will give you that edge round the cans next weekend ! PB. 96pp.

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The Rigging Handbook. The definitive book on the art of rigging. Addresses modern materials and technology whilst remaining true to riggings best traditions. You could construct your entire rig from this book from choosing the right wire to doing tailsplices- leathering and serving. HB. 412pp.

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Manual of Sail Trim. American yacht racing guru and prolific author Walker here spills the beans on how to make a boat go fast using the sails and the rig to maximum effect. A lively and well-structured text which covers all the usual aspect- legs and conditions. PB. 252pp.

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Emergency Sail/Safe - Emergency Quick Ref. Guide. Tek-Marine

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Hand Reef and Steer (Pb). The first book to be published for many years on the subject of traditional handling and sailing techniques appropriate for the older more traditional craft or replicas of such craft. These older designs are finding greater popularity then ever and many lost skills and wrinkles will be restored through this book. The author has learnt the hard way and has a lifetimes experience at the game. Colour photos/line drawings. Pb. 176pp.

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