Sailing For Dummies For Dummies Sports & Hobbies

Editorial Review
Interested in learning to sail but feel like you’re navigating in murky waters? Sailing for Dummies, Second Edition introduces the basics of sailing, looks at the different types of sailboats and their basic parts, and teaches you everything you need to know before you leave the dock.

In Sailing for Dummies, Second Edition, two U.S. sailing champions show you how to:

Find and choose a sailing school
Use life jackets correctly
Tie ten nautical knots
Handle sailing emergencies (such as capsizing and rescuing a man overboard)
Launch your boat from a trailer, ramp, or beach
Get your boat from point A to point B (and back again)
Predict and respond to water and wind conditions
Read charts, plot your course, use a compass, and find your position at sea

Customer Reviews

I have not received the item after one month with no explanation so therefore my experience is poor.

2008-08-02
I have not received this item nor have I received any email explaining why not after one month so I would characterize my experience as poor.

Jim Word

sailing for dummie

2008-07-23
This was very helpful as a first step before you take a personel lesson. I was aware of all of the terms and what was about to happen. Great book. I have red it more than once.

It let me know I was a DUMMY for thinking I could learn sailing from a book..

2008-07-17
Turns out sailing is pretty complicated. Especially if you're trying to cross the ocean on a 32 Contessa.

I give this book five stars for saving my life. I almost tried to cross the ocean with me and one other; neither of whom has any water experience at all. Considered other alternatives to my problem resolution after chapter 1.

How to hit a reef - or not

2008-07-06
An enjoyable, humerous review of the basics. Having been away from sailing for a few years (2 decades) I wanted to brush up on the fundamentals, this was a GREAT way to do it. I found out I hadn't forgotten as much as I thought.
I can see where a beginner would benefit also.

You "are" a Dummy if you buy it.

2008-07-06
Save your money and your time returning this book. It was written in an effort to make money only.

Perfect book for a new salt

2008-05-02
Interested in learning to sail but feel like you’re navigating in murky waters? Sailing for Dummies, Second Edition introduces the basics of sailing, looks at the different types of sailboats and their basic parts, and teaches you everything you need to know before you leave the dock.

In Sailing for Dummies, Second Edition, two U.S. sailing champions show you how to:

Find and choose a sailing school
Use life jackets correctly
Tie ten nautical knots
Handle sailing emergencies (such as capsizing and rescuing a man overboard)
Launch your boat from a trailer, ramp, or beach
Get your boat from point A to point B (and back again)
Predict and respond to water and wind conditions
Read charts, plot your course, use a compass, and find your position at sea

Sailing for Dummies shows you that getting out on the water is easier than you think. The authors keep the sailor-speak to a minimum where possible, but give you a grasp of the terminology you need to safely and effectively communicate with your crew. A textbook, user’s manual, and reference all in one, this book takes the intimidation out of sailing and gives you the skills and confidence you need to get your feet wet and become the sailing pro you’ve always wanted to be. Anchors away!

Great book for beginning sailors 2008-04-28
This is a great book; well-written and informative, and I recommend it highly.

Here is my "how I learned to sail" story:

I accidentally ended up in possession of an O'Day Sprite (10 foot dinghy), but knew nothing about sailing. I put it at my buddy's house; he had a place on a lake, and he promised to teach me how to sail. One day, he walked in, tossed me a bag of parts, and said "Go rig your boat!" He came down with me and taught me equipment terminology, and showed me how to rig the mast. We ended up replacing the mast stays, but everything else was okay.

We got it rigged and got the sails on. He looked at the sails, then looked at the boat; then he said, "That's an awful lot of sail for that boat." He took it out for a quick spin to make sure everything was working, then he put me in the boat and had me try to sail it, while he shadowed me in the Whaler, shouting instructions. The one thing I learned that day was that accidental jibes can cause death rolls (I didn't actually "learn" it until later, but that's what happened). We ended up towing the Sprite back in with the Whaler, and that ended my first lesson.

I went out and bought "Sailing for Dummies", spent a week reading and re-reading it from cover to cover, went back to the lake, and successfully sailed the boat for hours. I never did capsize it again, although I've had it darn near horizontal in a strong breeze. My friend likes to tell people he taught me how to sail; I always correct him and say he taught me how to capsize, which was just as valuable a lesson.

I spent several summers sailing both the Sprite and and my buddy's Hunter 170, then "graduated" to keelboats. He kept telling me that that the Sprite was the hardest boat I'd ever sail; bigger boats are easier.

I got a combination membership/keelboat class at a local sailing club in Boston, learning how to dodge the freighters coming in and out of the harbor, navigation, mooring, anchoring, etc; all the stuff that has less to do with the act of sailing, but necessary for sailing out in the real world. From time to time, I'd go back to "Sailing for Dummies" to brush up on items I hadn't needed prior to that point. I ended up taking additional classes and got a number of certifications.

Best beginners' manual 2008-03-11
I've used the "Sailing for Dummies" 2nd edition as a text in my University Continuing Education class, because I can find no better for the purpose. For those adult students who might be shy about taking such a book home for their children or others to harrass them about, I provide a nice fake cover that reads something like "Advanced Nautical Navigation Techniques for Exceptionally Bright Mariners."

Well done !!! 2007-10-06
This book is well written. I continue to buy this book for friends who want to learn more about sailing. As a result, I get better and better crew members on my Catalina 36.

First half of it very good 2007-09-02
While not as good as Gary Jobson's Sailing Fundamentals, this is a good beginning book for sailors.