Yachting: Start to Finish »

Barry Pickthall is a respected writer and photographer who has been covering all aspects of sailing for the last 35 years, 20 of them as yachting correspondent for The Times newspaper.  He continues to write for magazines across Europe, South Africa and Australasia.  He is a qualified sailing instructor – having graduated from one of the first courses held at the UKSA.

New to sailing? Or are you an experienced sailor wanting to broaden your skills and develop your techniques?   In either case, Yachting is the perfect book for you.

This easy to follow,step-by-step companion guides you through the world of knots, navigation and heavy-weather sailing. Yachting is accessible to all levels, giving those new to sailing straightforward advice, and shows the experienced sailors how to take sailing to the next level with professional tips and tricks to sail faster and safer.

Yachting covers the following and much more:

• Basic Principles – the science of sailing, knots, ropes and running rigging

• Preparing to Sail – essential gear, rules of the road, getting onboard

• First Sail – navigation, balance, sail and trim

• Safety at Sea – file a plan, man overboard and radar reflectors

Packed with hundreds of illustrations and photographs, this is the way to learn, develop and refresh your sailing skills.

Getting started.

1. Basic principles.

Parts of the boat.

The science of sailing.

Points of sail.

Choosing a yacht.

Buying a yacht.

Transporting and launching keelboats.

The Rig.

Knots, ropes and running rigging

2. Preparing to sail.

What to wear.

Essential equipment.

Getting onboard from dinghy and dock.

Rules of the road.

Bending on sails, roller furling and reefing

3. First sail.

Boat handling under power - mooring and anchoring.

Balance, sail, trim.

Tides and weather

Basics of navigation.

Radio etiquette

4. Safety at sea.

File a plan.

Radar reflectors.

Man aloft.

Fire.

Man overboard.

5. Glossary of terms.

Acknowledgements.