Reddit mentions: The best sailing books

I'll second Life of Pi, especially as a way to shock him into reading literature as metaphor. The ending is the equivalent of the author smacking you upside the head with the book saying "No son, you must learn that stories have more to tell you than just the plot!", which is quite useful.

If you want to foster thinking for themselves and not spouting anecdotal nonsense and hyperbole, definitely stay away from both all the atheist literature people are throwing about and Ayn Rand. Both are built up on that sort of thought process. For getting them interested in scientific/rational thought, might I suggest Carl Sagan's Cosmos? It's a bit outdated at this point, but no one has ever approached science with the sense of wonder that Sagan did.

If you're intent on giving him some sort of "atheist" stuff, might I suggest Daniel Dennett's Darwin's Dangerous Idea instead? Rather than focusing on how awful religion is, it completely ignores that subject and discusses the ways in which the idea of natural selection was a paradigm shift within the sciences and how it has become one of the dominant metaphors that we use to understand our world.

Kierkagaard and Nietzsche might not be bad choices. I'm a big fan of Fear and Trembling even as an atheist myself; I think it's a wonderful discussion on the meaning that interpersonal relationships bring to our life. But then, I'm also all about the postmodern "language as the space that exists between humans and creates meaning" thing, so YMMV.

Good travel writing might be useful in just opening his eyes to what the world has to offer. I'm not well read in this genre, but A Wolverine is Eating My Leg is hilarious, well written, and covers all sorts of different places. The title is an ironic take on other travel journalists -- no wolverines eat any legs.

It might also help to have an idea of this person's interests. Does he like fishing? Does he like music? Does he like space? Does he like drugs? Does he like cooking? Does he like computers? Give me some idea and I'll try to come up with a book that tackles one of those topics directly while also being meditative on a lot of other stuff. That's often how to pique someone's interest in the way that you wish to.

Anyway, this was long and I'll probably get downboated for suggesting !atheist_lit, but I've had my say and hopefully you'll find it helpful. Reply with his interests if you want more specific recs.

* hm just realized that you didn't specify gender. I'm leaving the pronouns as are, because I'm lazy, but I think my choices are fairly gender-neutral except Wolverine.

The Complete Sailor, by Seidman & Mulford.

I'm reading the second edition of the Slight / DK manual at present, and IMO it's quite poor. It features an incorrect theory of aerofoils [more], and the layout is a bit cluttered, but most importantly it's badly written. Sentences are poorly phrased, with repeated and redundant words, whole descriptions are a messy clusterfuck, and the author uses nautical words which it doesn't explain or define (and I'm sure at least once wasn't in the index).

I was impressed by The Complete Sailor when I read it, my first sailing book, but having read two more in the intervening weeks, my opinion has only hardened.

It is a beautifully and elegantly constructed work, and I say that not just because of Mulford's illustrations - he does deserve as much credit as Seidman - but also for the layout and the way topics are handled. Each page or pair of facing pages covers a single topic, and there's something particularly impressive in how it's explained in a way that the reader can understand - the book starts by talking about the wind, and thereafter every term or concept that is used to explain the current topic is one that has been explained already, previously in the book.

I really think that the authors deserve a lot of credit for how they lay a foundation of information and then build upon it - they make everything simple and logical, and any time you think "what does that mean?" you know that it's already been covered, and it's easy to flip back to the right section. The authors have taken a lot of information about a complicated subject, and made it really accessible.

The Complete Sailor also focuses more on the core concepts of sailing and seamanship than the other books do - they make more digressions about types of life preserver, wood vs GRP, details of yacht vs dinghy, and key dates in yachting history.

I haven't read Sailing for Dummies, but Herreshoff's Sailor's Handbook is pretty good, and I'd recommend anyone pick up a secondhand or remaindered copy to set alongside Complete Sailor. There's probably some stuff in the former that the latter skips.

The Dorling Kindersley book, though, just feels a bit like marketing-orientated writing - it's a thick book, full of high quality glossy photos and clean modern illustrations; it probably looks commanding in the store, and it'll probably be bought as a present by mothers and grandmas for teenagers who have developed an interest in the sport. Nevertheless, it's cluttered, hard to read and factually wrong.

I know that I could have expressed this comparison with more clarity, but it's late here, so I can only apologise.

Rather than typing out a ton of stuff again, here's a few other short discussions we've had on them: One and Two.

For magazines I'm a big fan of Wooden Boat and Small Craft Advisor.

I just finished reading Jack London's Cruise of the Snark and it is hands down my favorite sailing book I've read yet, but I really like London's writing style. If you want fiction check out The Sea Wolf also by London. I haven't read that yet, but I saw a film version of it which was great and have the book waiting on my shelf.

Another awesome classic for fiction is The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers, which is not only a great sailing book but apparently one of the first spy thrillers to sell well.

Of course there's always Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum which is an absolute classic of voyage writing. Also, kind of a spiritual successor to that as his boat was named Joshua in honor of Cpt. Slocum is Bernard Moitessier's The Long Way which recounts his attempt at the 1968 Round-the-World single-handed race and his eventual abandonment from it to pursue spiritual peace at sea.

Not sure what kind of books you're looking for, instructional, historical, voyaging stories, fiction... there's a metric ton of sailing books out there, just start digging around. I asked for like, seven or eight books for christmas this year, I'll post back after I get them and can remember what they all were =D

If you want more suggestions I can probably go look at what I have upstairs and think about some other good ones for you, but those are definitely some classics to get you started!

Welcome to the Bay Area!!! It's not all gentlemen here ;) we've got some ladies too!

For summer sailing on the bay, one thing you may have heard about is the "summer pattern" - cool air (aka heavy winds) rushing in through the Golden Gate and spilling over the Bay and towards Sacramento is a common occurrence in the summer, when Sacremento's hot weather causes a vaccum sucking wind in from the ocean. Just know that it can be still at 2pm and gusting 25knots by 4pm. I race on the bay and have seen this happen a few times!

Also, I definitely recommend bringing a motor with you in high-traffic areas with deep channels where the huge cargo boats pass. The Lee of Angel island is easy to get stuck in without wind, and that's a highly trafficked area. A motor will ease some stress until you're used to weather patterns created by the terrain around the Bay.

Last!! I HIGHLY recommend the book Sailing the Bay by Kimball Livingston. It's a great easy read and I'm sure many sailors familiar with the bay read through it with knowing nods about the little bits of local knowledge. http://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Bay-Kimball-Livingston/dp/0966380800

I'm sure you already are but if not, start keeping eyes on the local used boat market. Wait and watch then pick your pitch. If it's too good to be true, it probably is BUT there are motivated sellers. People buy 2nd boats before selling their current one all the time, people inherit boats they can't afford upkeep on, people leave them at boat yards. This is especially true for smaller and older boats where the annual storage and upkeep can exceed the value of the boat itself.

Set up a separate bank account and figure out your annual cost of ownership. Start getting used to setting that money aside automatically each month. It'll give you a head start on your sinking fund so any early upgrades or repairs don't sting as much.

I watched and saved for 3 years until I was able to make a late-season steal on a well cared for Cal 2-25. Owner bought it for 6k, was paying 3500 for a slip and 1600 for winter storage. He was asking 5k but I waited until late in the season and offered 3400 pointing out the fact that he's breaking even on asking price by avoiding the looking winter storage. We settled on 3800 and we took ownership with 2+ months of the sailing season left.

While you're preparing, read the following books:

• Buy, Outfit, Sail: How To Inexpensively and Safely Buy, Outfit, and Sail a Small Vessel Around the World https://www.amazon.com/dp/1456310038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Hi8YzbQ3KFZYY
  
• Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual: Including Inspecting the Aging Sailboat, Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair, Sailboat Refinishing, Sailbo (International Marine-RMP) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071462848/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lj8YzbYPNZDPR

Here's the deal: You can probably go on this trip, but you have to know and accept that you will be taking a big risk. You have to weigh that against the fact that you may not get another opportunity to do this.

If this is something that you are interested in, there are better, wiser, less risky ways to go about it. I'm not saying you might not go and be fine, or survive, but it's probably a bad idea.

The problem is, you need to be able to seriously evaluate the situation before you commit. Because you are saying he's going to pay for your flight, it basically means that once you accept that money you are going to have the expectation of going along. Can you imagine why it might be not the best idea for people who have never sailed together before to commit to a trip on an unknown, used, boat, sight unseen? Most people who consider jumping off on these "adventures" never stop to think that they might be setting themselves up for a situation that might not even resemble anything close to enjoyable.

Well, for starters, there's the group dynamic. Ever been stuck in a small space with someone with no escape for a month straight? Your friends, siblings, parents? People who you knew and loved? How long was it before you found yourself being petty and irritable over insignificant things? There's a very good reason that NASA runs psych screens on all their candidates. I highly recommend reading this book if you are considering doing this, as it candidly discusses some of the issues with social dynamics when people go to sea together. http://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Sailing-Seas-Effects-Mind/dp/0877429634

Next, there's the unknown of the boat. I suppose with no experience, you will have to trust your the captain's evaluation, but you still have no idea what you will be getting into. Used boats are, well, used....and if you are delivering one across an ocean for someone, there's a good chance the customer has just bought the boat and then the chances for problems go up exponentially. What do you know about the boat? Was it just bought/sold?(if so, there's a high likelihood of hidden/unknown issues and neglected maintenance) What do you know of the captain? Does he have money problems and really need money? Is he the type of person who would take a paying job, even if the boat was in poor shape?

Finally, there's the unknown of yourself and how you will endure this trip. Not trying to condescend, but you really have no idea what you're getting yourself into. If its just the two of you, sailing doublehanded, then you will have to split your watches with one person always awake, which means that you will basically be sailing the boat alone half the time. Are you prepared to be exhausted and get very little sleep for the next month, or longer? The best way to learn something difficult is to work your way up to it. Would you expect to be able to climb mount everest if you had never had any training? If you survived, would you expect to have a good time?

TL,DR: It is probably unwise to commit to a situation that you can't evaluate ahead of time or back out of if you get bad vibes. If you are going to go, prepare yourself in every way possible. Ocean sailing is difficult, challenging, serious business, not a vacation. Treat it with respect.

I did the RYA competent crew out here in Barcelona with a company based in Brighton.

I had 0 sailing experience.

Before the course, I brought Dummies Guide to Sailing and buried myself in the book. It helped to have some basic knowledge of how sailing works.

The course was great and as other have said, you'll be getting your hand dirty. I went on to do the Day skipper 6 weeks later, and am now the proud owner of my very own boat.

Still learning every time I sail though :)

It's a very well put together course and an excellent starting base.

I did mine with lagoon.co.uk

I'd just like to point out that although the Bernoulli effect is secondary, it is in fact still very important. If thrust were the only force at play, then sailing faster than the wind would not be possible. Yet it theoretically is. Picture a properly tuned airfoil effectively tapping in to the internal energy of the fluid in which it moves. Moreover, the experienced sailor knows that optimal sail performance utilizes the residual air flow from the foresail to aid in inducing laminar flow around the main sail. That is why the physics is such that the mainsail is a more efficient sail per area, as the foresail aids in the lift of the mainsail by reducing turbulence. Sources: 1) A Manual of Sail Trim
and 2) Sail Power

When I got into dinghy sailing, I was obsessed with Royces Sailing Illustrated. I don't know how up to date it is, but I loved reading it.

Also, I may be biased, since my godfather wrote it, but Winning in One Designs is a great book, very accessible and super-informative.

If you are new to sailing, try The Book on Sailing Safety. It teaches the fundamentals of sailing and boating safety as well as more advanced topics. Search for it on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Sailing-Safety-Henry-Krisher/dp/197938634X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510769205&sr=8-1&keywords=The+book+on+Sailing+Safety&dpID=51o7QcQlWcL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

I started drawing again. Reading more books for leisure. Recently came across a book called Alone Together: Sailing Solo to Hawaii and Beyond it's a personal log of a solo sailing journey to Hawaii. Very well written filled with humor and a great little escape even if you're not into sailing. The author has a youtube channel where he blogs about working on his boat and reads an excerpt from the novel (https://www.youtube.com/user/cdw000).

Exercise is a great way to get lost in your own thoughts and vitalize the body. I go hiking from time to time. I think it's a great hobby to take on.

For a while I was into vintage watch collecting. It was a weird passion brought on by the idea of replacing a fitbit I got from my ex for Christmas. I was never a watch person until I got that fitbit and literally wore it every day. I came to realize that it's dangerous to start collecting anything when it's for the reason of trying to fill a void. I sold off my collection once it became a problem.

You're right about not wasting energy and talent on hate, anger, and misery. Going through this has made me realized that it's pointless to feed my demons. This has changed me a bit. Though I still think a bit of anger is healthy as it can be a force that drives productivity, so as long as you know where to stop. I have had thoughts here and there whether I've been suppressing the anger or it's really gone. I hope for the latter.

Whether our problems are similar or not, the end result is the same I think. But finding solace in the fact that there great people out there gives a lot of hope that it will be okay.

It's a used book, This Is Sailing, but a good one that goes from novice to what a spinnaker is. It has illustrations every other page, many places every page, and focuses on dingy sailing. A dingy is a very good boat to start sailing in.


EDIT Alternate sources:

• B&N
  
  
• Google Books which links to B&N.

Here are all the local Amazon links I could find:


amazon.co.uk

amazon.ca

amazon.com.au

amazon.in

amazon.com.mx

amazon.de

amazon.it

amazon.es

amazon.com.br

amazon.nl

Beep bloop. I'm a bot to convert Amazon ebook links to local Amazon sites.
I currently look here: amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, amazon.com.au, amazon.in, amazon.com.mx, amazon.de, amazon.it, amazon.es, amazon.com.br, amazon.nl, if you would like your local version of Amazon adding please contact my creator.

Fatty Goodlander is a master of improvisation. They were lucky to have him on the radio! If you haven't already, check out some of his books. As an experienced sailor, I received his book "Buy, outfit and sail a small vessel around the world" and a bottle of rum in return for pulling a Canadian boat off of shore in Charleston. There's a lot I already knew, there were some neat tricks I never thought of, but overall it was a fun read. http://www.amazon.com/Outfit-Sail-Capn-Fatty-Goodlander-ebook/dp/B00638SJII

Nice man I go to SJSU and my sailing class there was awesome, even though it was just in a lake. But for a book I'd consider the ASA books:
https://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Made-Easy-American-Association/dp/098210250X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502261789&sr=8-1&keywords=asa+101
If you want to get ASA certified down the road you'll end up getting them anyways :p

Honestly, I have read Sailing for Dummies and it was very straight forward and helpful in learning about the basics. It may not be as engaging as other books listed, but it is an easy and informative read.

I can recommend the Tricktionary: One of the best books for learning new moves with tons of information for all levels in my opinion. I only found a kindle link but I am sure there are places where you can get a hard cover edition.

Cap'n Fatty has at least one book that addresses this question. He would add a #4 to your list, "You live frugally while at sea." But he also mentions a pretty good list of "jobs you can do at sea" - including skills in demand among other boat folks. He even mentions a dentist who had an exam chair in one of the cabins on his boat, IIRC.

I recommend The Complete Sailor and the ASA Basic Keelboat text Sailing Made Easy. Note that if you sign up for ASA 101 you should get Sailing Made Easy included.

This is covered by rule 11 and 16.1.

Rule 11 On the Same Tack, Overlapped: When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.

Rule 16.1 Changing Course: When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.

If I were you I'd get a copy of Dave Perry's book and read it a few times.

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Racing-Rules-Sailing-through/dp/1938915046

All these questions are spelled out in the rule book, or will otherwise be amended by the Racing Instructions provided during the Skippers Meeting.

I highly recommend the Dave Perry book Understanding The Racing Rules Of Sailing. This book also contains the current US Sailing rulebook in full, so you need not buy both books.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1938915046

A word of advice - I wouldn't worry about protests, particularly how to file one, at your first regatta. Worry about beating them on the course, not in the room. Keep your head in the game, don't sail mad. Sail fast, sail smart, sail safe.

Not a beginner's book but has good information about the laser:

Paul Goodison's RYA Laser Handbook:
http://www.amazon.com/RYA-Laser-Handbook-Paul-Goodison/dp/1905104650/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344452322&sr=8-1

• Atlantic Spain and Portugal: Cabo Ortegal (Galicia) to Gibraltar
  
  
• Mediterranean Spain - Costas Del Sol and Blanca: Strait of Gibraltar to Denia
  
  
• Islas Baleares
  
  I highly recommend Cadiz, where you can anchor near the bridge - we agreed we could happily spend several days there, if we had more time.
  
  I don't have photos of the sheltered anchorage at Sancti Petri - it is full of moorings and I can't remember if there's room to put the anchor down, but the book will tell you.

oh..shameless plug for one of my heroes.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Buy-Outfit-Sail-Inexpensively-Safely/dp/1456310038/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537972806&sr=8-1&keywords=goodlander

Just saw the last part of this sentence. Crewing for club races? In that case I have to recommend Winning In One Designs by Dave Perry to go along with the Racing Rules of Sailing

His writing is also nice

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alone-Together-Sailing-Hawaii-Beyond/dp/099725310X

I completely and whole heartily recommend -

Buy, Outfit, and Sail by Fatty Goodlander.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00638SJII/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_hCKSBbDBD1P7E

And ...

Chasing the Horizon also by Fatty Goodlander.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00121QHXK/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_yEKSBbDTYBTS5

He is the uncrowded king of Poverty Finance.

Read as much as you can, join Facebook groups, buy a Kindle, go to boat shows. Immerse yourself in the culture as much as you can before you have a boat.

https://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Made-Easy-American-Association/dp/098210250X

Buy the boat "Sailing the Bay" by Kimball Livingston, and read it. Then decide on a next step.

http://www.amazon.com/Sailing-The-Bay-Kimball-Livingston/dp/0966380800

Or by it used for $3.46