The Complete Sailor: Learning the Art of Sailing »

David Seidman (Oak Beach, NY) has spent a good portion of his life finding his way around the world. He has crossed oceans, toured central Asia and Mongolia without a map or the ability to speak the language, and found a Mayan ruin in Guatemala. He is the author of The Essential Sea Kayaker, The Essential Wilderness Navigator, and The Complete Sailor and a former editor of Boating magazine.

The Complete Sailor takes the reader from the first sail to a mastery of small-boat handling. Weaving his writing around 600 drawings by noted marine illustrator Kelly Mulford, David Seidman has created a book in which each double-page spread invites the eye and communicates volumes of information. The Complete Sailor goes beyond other learn-to-sail books to cover navigation, boat design, and seamanship. Encyclopedic in scope yet warm in style, it conveys the magic as well as the techniques of sailing. Among the other topics covered: anchoring, ropework, rigging, weather, fog, squalls, currents and tides, rules of the road, trailering, and working the winds. The book is a gentle introduction for those just starting out, and a guide to new horizons for those who already sail.

nnn Cruising World

&'grave;A real winner.#.#.A masterful blend of straightforward text with delightful and instructive illustrations. Quite simply a great primer on sailing and the world of boats for readers of all ages.''

Wind SenseDirectionWords of the WindLand and the WindTrue & Apparent WindsWind Speed TablesWind StrengthWorking WindsWith the WindAcross the WindWorking the WindInto the WindGetting UnderwayBending SailSteeringMaking SailLeaving a Mooring, or a DockReachingKeeping a CourseClose-hauledTackingOther TacksIn IronsDownwindJibingHeaving ToCapsized!Heavy WeatherReturning to a Mooring, or a DockBeach SailingDock WorkLeaving HerThe BoatFormComparing BoatsLinesStabilityHeelingResistancePreventing LeewayWooden BoatsFiberglass BoatsMetal BoatsBuoyancyBoats!RiggingStanding RiggingRunning RiggingSail ControlsMechanical AdvantageRigsBalanceSelf-SteeringSailsSail ShapeTelltalesFault FinderReefingThe GenoaThe SpinnakerSail CareUnder PowerInboardsOutboardsOarsRules of the RoadRight of WayAvoiding CollisionsSound SignalsLights & ShipsAnchoringGround TackleThe AnchorageAnchoring Under SailA Second AnchorWeighing AnchorMooringsMarlinspike SeamanshipRopeThe Ditty BagKnotsCleatsEye SpliceGoing AloftChafeCoilingHeaving LinesEmergenciesAvoiding TroublePersonal SafetyAgroundMan OverboardTowingSignaling for HelpSea and SkyWeatherFogSquallsCurrentsTideNavigationLanguage of the ChartAids to NavigationLightsVisibilitySoundPlotting a CourseThe CompassSteering a CourseDeviationLines of PositionDanger LOPsDistance OffA FixDead ReckoningDistance RunSpeedRunning FixCorrecting for CurrentsTraileringThe TrailerOn the RoadBacking UpLaunching & RetrievingIndex