Welcome to Sailing Sailing is a fantastic sport that relies on two great elements - wind and water - both of which are natural and free! It offers great value for all those who want to enjoy the wonderfully simple sensations of being blown along by a breeze in your sails. This book - arranged in the following sections - aims to tell you everything you need to know about this great sport. Starting out How did sailing evolve from tough working boats and millionaires'' yachts to a sport enjoyed by millions of sailors today? Democracy and technology have taken over, providing an activity that can be enjoyed by all ages at all levels, ranging from recreational to professional. The first section of this book explains how you can learn to sail and get into the sport, and provides a guide to the similarities and differences between sailing small dinghies, larger keelboats, multihulls or larger cruising yachts. Learning to sail How does the wind actually drive a boat? In the old days, it was simple: the crew of a Viking long ship or square-rigger merely sailed with the wind behind them, but now we can sail in any direction except directly toward the wind. This section explains the difference between "points" of sailing known as beating, reaching and running, and the changes in direction known as tacks and jibes. It goes on to cover how sail power provides forward drive and how sail trim and the rudder are used to steer the boat. Sailing maneuvers involve changing direction, not least when you meet another boat, so a vital question is "Who has right of way?" Knots and ropework are also basic elements of learning to sail, as are staying warm and choosing the right gear.

Dinghy sailing Dinghies and beach cats are the smallest sailing craft. They also provide the cheapest introduction to the sport and get you physically closer to wind and water. The choice of different boats is huge, so in this section we have made a selection of popular classes, explaining how they are designed and built, and how you launch and sail away from the shore. You''ll find details here about all of these, plus information on racing around a course, dinghy maintenance, and trapeze and spinnaker technique for high-performance sailing. Cruiser sailing A cruiser or yacht provides the opportunity to live afloat. It''s a wonderful lifestyle, whether you''re sailing in sunshine or snuggled up somewhere in the comfort of the cabin down below. This section explains the principal elements of a cruiser, how to rig and reef the sails, how to sail in all directions, how to use the engine should the wind fail, how to leave or enter a dock or marina, how to deal with wind and tide, and how to choose an anchorage or pick up a mooring. It also explains what to do in rough weather or fog.

Remember that you''ll want to go ashore, so you''ll need a tender - also covered in this section. Navigation and weather You need to know where you''re going and how to get there. Navigation was once a difficult subject, but has become much more accessible due to the availability of GPS. The classic style of navigation, however, is still important - everyone who sails a yacht should know how to read a chart, plot a course and calculate the movement of tides. Weather plays a major role in sailing, and though we have never been more blessed by reliable forecasts, understanding weather systems and their effect on your sailing will be an invaluable help. Boat maintenance Many dinghies are virtually maintenance free: just hose off any salt and put them away. By contrast, yachts require annual maintenance to ensure that everything works perfectly the following season. This section explains how to look after every element of the yacht including the hull and deck, sails, engine, electrical, plumbing and safety equipment.

Safety Finally, you need to sail safely, To do this, you must plan ahead, use the right equipment, avoid collisions, learn how to read signals and acquire a basic knowledge of first aid and emergency repairs. We hope you enjoy this book and that it leads to many years of sailing pleasure. It truly is a fabulous sport.