Adam Cort

Everything you need to race your way up through the fleetIf you sail--even a little--you’ve probably thought about trying your hand at racing. Now you can stop thinking and do it. Getting Started in Sailboat Racing makes this endlessly fascinating lifetime sport accessible to anyone who wants to give it a try, whether you own a sailboat, are hoping to crew, or spectating from a nearby perch. This complete course in racing fundamentals breaks the racing experience down into bite-size pieces, making the process easier to understand and reflecting the leg-by-leg nature of a typical race. With scores of helpful illustrations, this user-friendly manual takes you around the buoys, explaining new rule changes and tactics that apply to each part of the race. You'll learn how to:Execute quick, competitive startsMaximize speed and efficiency on the windward legManeuver for position around the windward markTake full advantage of downwind and reaching legsHandle the spinnaker (even when asymmetrical), and beat the crowd at the jibe and leeward marksEke out every last bit of speed as you sprint to the finishThere are few things in this world more satisfying than racing a sailboat. Get in on the action and find out what you've been missing. All you need is a competitive spirit and a little help from Getting Started in Sailboat Racing." Cort and Stearns deftly break down racing, from start to finish, into basic elements, making the sport more accessible by giving the novice a strong understanding of the fundamentals . . . this book should be required reading for anyone wanting to get out on thecourse. The book goes into enough detail on tactics and sail trim to make the average sailor not only comfortable on the racecourse, but competitive, as well." -- SAILING"With Cort and Stearns' enthusiasm for the topic and straightforward advice, it's hard not to read this book without picturing yourself rounding the buoys just ahead of the rest of the fleet." -- Soundings

Become an instinctive sailorBeneath the vast surface details and nuances of sailing are 22 elements. Understand these core principles and you are on your way to sailing mastery. For example:It's easier to master the nine ways of shaping a mainsail when you understand the principles of sail shape. It's easier to master a sailor's knots when you understand what makes a good one. It's easier to diagnose sluggish performance when you know how lift is developed by the rig and keel. You'll sail faster and with less effort when you understand the principles of helm balance and can steer with the sails alone. And it's easier to take the helm of any boat, no matter how unfamiliar, when you can judge its sailing qualities by its appearance. The Blue Book of Sailing grounds its lessons in the timeless traditions and romance of sail while illustrating them with contemporary boats, rigs, and stories. This is the book that delves beneath the what's and how's to explore the why's. When you understand these 22 essentials, you will have exchanged the memorized responses of rote learning for the effortless mastery of an instinctive sailor. You will always be in tune with your boat.