Sailing For Dummies

by Isler, J. J.; Isler, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780471791430
• ISBN10: 0471791431
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-06-06
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

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!

Author Biography

JJ and Peter Isler have been sailing for most of their lives. JJ grew up around boats in San Diego, California, learning to sail in a little 7-foot dinghy called a Sabot. Peter started out loving powerboats and fishing (boys can be so strange!), but took up sailing after his family moved to Connecticut when he was 13 years old.
The Islers are well known throughout the world of sailing as top competitors and teachers. They both have taught sailing to people of all ages and experiences. Peter played an important, early role in developing US Sailing’s educational program. He also coached at the Olympic level and helped found the American Sailing Association, which accredits sailing schools and certifies sailors and instructors.
Peter has twice won the America’s Cup, serving as navigator aboard Stars & Stripes with Dennis Conner in 1987 and 1988. An accomplished small-boat sailor, Peter was Intercollegiate Sailor of the Year while at Yale University. He was the top-ranked U.S. sailor on the professional match-racing circuit for five years and has won many of the world’s major ocean races, including the Bermuda Race and the Transpac (where he navigated Morning Glory to an elapsed time record in 2005).
Peter has also been very active in the media. In the 1990s, he shifted his America’s Cup energies to television, where he was a featured analyst in ESPN’s Emmy Award–winning Cup coverage in 1992 and 1995. More recently, he covered sailing for the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), including its coverage of the 2003 America’s Cup. He is the author of several books on the sport and is presently Editor at Large of Sailing World magazine. In his spare time, Peter enjoys playing guitar and keyboard with his band, The Water Brothers.
JJ is the only American female (so far) to have won two Olympic medals in sailing, and she is the first female inductee in the Sailing World Hall of Fame. With crew member Pamela Healy, JJ won the Bronze Medal in the Women’s 470 class in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. In the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, she and crew member Pease Glaser won the Silver. JJ is a four-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year (in 1986, 1991, 1997, and 2000) and has won three World Championships and numerous national titles. She was the first female to compete in a number of events on the international matchracing circuit. And in 1995 she was the tactician and starting helmsman for the America3 Women’s America’s Cup team. She graduated from Yale University where she was captain of the sailing team and a collegiate All-American.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(1)
About This Book	1	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	2	(1)
What You're Not to Read	2	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	3	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	4	(1)
Part I: Before You Get Your Feet Wet	4	(1)
Part II: Casting Off and Sailing Away	4	(1)
Part III: Sailing Fast --- Taking Your Sailing to the Next Level	4	(1)
Part IV: Sailing Away for a Year and a Day	5	(1)
Part V: The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Part VI: Appendixes	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(1)
Where to Go from Here	6	(1)
Part I: Before You Get Your Feet Wet	7	(70)
Ready, Set, Go: Time to Start Sailing	9	(14)
What You Need to Start Sailing	10	(2)
Taking lessons	10	(1)
Location, location, location	10	(1)
Feeling the wind	11	(1)
Considering safety	12	(1)
Looking at a Sailboat	12	(8)
All sailboats have a hull	13	(1)
All sailboats have an underwater fin	14	(2)
All sailboats have a mast	16	(1)
All sailboats have sails	17	(2)
All sailboats have lots of rope	19	(1)
Tackling Some Basic Sailing Maneuvers	20	(2)
Coasting to a stop	20	(1)
Sailing into the wind	21	(1)
Where You Can Go with Sailing	22	(1)
Knowing Where You Can Learn: Classes and Sailing Schools	23	(14)
Where You Can Go to Learn	24	(1)
What Kind of Boat You Should Learn On	24	(4)
Dinghies	25	(1)
Keelboats	26	(2)
Keeping It Easy the First Time	28	(2)
Choosing a Sailing School	30	(5)
Exploring your options	30	(1)
Taking lessons while on vacation	31	(1)
Looking outside the United States	31	(1)
Interviewing a potential school	31	(1)
Finding the right sailing instructor	32	(1)
Picking a sailing school for the kids	33	(2)
Practicing: The More, the Better	35	(1)
Taking Advanced Classes	36	(1)
Planning Ahead: What to Wear and What to Bring	37	(12)
Staying Safe with Life Jackets	38	(2)
Choosing the right jacket	38	(1)
Using life jackets correctly	39	(1)
Children and life jackets	39	(1)
Staying Warm + Dry = Having Fun	40	(2)
Sizing up your sailing wardrobe	40	(1)
Layering	41	(1)
Staying dry on top	41	(1)
Preparing Yourself for Getting Wet	42	(1)
Choosing Foul-Weather Gear	43	(1)
Picking the Right Shoes	43	(1)
Packing What You Need	44	(2)
What to leave on shore	46	(1)
Stowing your stuff	46	(1)
Checking Your Safety List	46	(3)
Before You Leave the Dock	49	(28)
Dissecting a Sailboat: This Part and That Part	50	(2)
Climbing Aboard	52	(2)
Climbing aboard a dinghy	52	(1)
Climbing onto a keelboat	53	(1)
Rigging the Boat	54	(9)
Preparing the sails	55	(7)
Double-checking before hoisting the sails	62	(1)
Raising the Sails	63	(8)
Hoisting the mainsail	64	(4)
Hoisting the jib	68	(1)
Cleaning up all that rope	69	(2)
Sitting at the Dock on the Bay	71	(1)
Steering (And Riding in) the Boat	71	(4)
Tiller or wheel?	71	(2)
Knowing where to sit when you drive	73	(1)
Knowing where the crew should sit	74	(1)
Avoiding danger areas	74	(1)
Avoiding Collisions: Rules of the Road	75	(2)
Part II: Casting Off and Sailing Away	77	(144)
Going Sailing: Just the Basics, Please	79	(26)
Finding the Wind's Direction	80	(1)
Feeling the wind	80	(1)
Using other clues to find the wind	80	(1)
Identifying the Points of Sail	81	(8)
More about that darn no-sail zone	82	(1)
Sailing in the zone	83	(6)
Pointing Out the Basic Sailing Terms	89	(2)
Heading up and bearing away	89	(1)
Port and starboard tack	89	(1)
Windward and leeward	90	(1)
Making the Basic Sailing Maneuvers	91	(7)
Tacking: Turning toward the wind	91	(1)
Ironing out those irons	92	(3)
Jibing: Turning away from the wind	95	(3)
Pulling In Lines	98	(7)
Using blocks	99	(2)
Using winches	101	(4)
Leaving the Dock (And Coming Back)	105	(20)
Leaving the Mooring or Dock	106	(3)
Using an engine	106	(1)
Leaving the mooring under sail	106	(1)
Leaving the dock under sail	107	(2)
Getting Back to the Dock or Mooring	109	(5)
Coming back to the mooring	110	(1)
Coming back to the dock	111	(1)
Docking under power	112	(1)
Docking between pilings	113	(1)
Throwing a Line	114	(1)
Tying Up a Boat: Leaving It Secure	114	(2)
Spring lines	115	(1)
Watch out for that tide!	116	(1)
Getting Your Boat into the Water	116	(9)
Launching a trailerable sailboat	116	(3)
Launching without a trailer	119	(1)
Sliding a dinghy off a dock	120	(1)
Starting from the beach	121	(1)
Returning to the beach	122	(1)
Putting up a mast	123	(2)
Safety: One Hand for the Boat, One Hand for Yourself	125	(28)
Preparing for Heavy Weather	126	(8)
Getting ready in advance	126	(1)
Preparing when you're already at sea	127	(3)
Reducing your sail power	130	(4)
Recovering from a Capsize	134	(5)
The anatomy of a capsize	135	(1)
Righting the boat	135	(3)
Rescuing a swamped boat	138	(1)
Staying on Board	139	(1)
Rescuing a Man Overboard	140	(5)
Step 1: Keep the swimmer in sight	141	(1)
Step 2: Throw the swimmer the life ring	141	(1)
Step 3: Stop the boat	142	(2)
Step 4: Get the swimmer back on board	144	(1)
Staying Calm If You Fall Overboard	145	(2)
Conserve energy	145	(1)
Maximize buoyancy	145	(1)
Conserve body heat	146	(1)
Catching a Tow	147	(1)
Communicating via the VHF Radio	148	(5)
Talking on your VHF	149	(1)
Using Channel 16 in emergencies	150	(1)
Using SSB and satellite radio	150	(3)
All about Weather: Red Sky at Night	153	(18)
Figuring Out How Windy It Is	154	(3)
Getting the Scoop on the Weather	157	(1)
Whither the Weather	158	(6)
The big picture: Temperature and pressure differences	159	(2)
Low-pressure areas and fronts	161	(1)
The small picture	162	(1)
More than cloud gazing	163	(1)
Squalls	164	(1)
Facing Up to Fog	164	(1)
Going with the Tide and the Current	165	(2)
Understanding Sea Breezes	167	(1)
Recognizing Wind Shifts	168	(1)
Using Your Weather Knowledge	169	(2)
Navigation: Holding Your Course	171	(30)
Using Common-Sense Navigation	172	(3)
Judging laylines	172	(1)
Holding a steady course	173	(1)
Avoiding shallow water	174	(1)
Relying on Buoys: Aids to Navigation	175	(3)
Knowing your colors	175	(1)
Identifying the types of buoys	176	(2)
Charts: A Sailor's Roadmap	178	(5)
Lining up your latitudes and longitudes	178	(1)
Deciphering a chart	179	(3)
Measuring a course and range	182	(1)
Using a Compass	183	(2)
Accounting for deviation	184	(1)
Reading a compass	184	(1)
Steering a compass course	185	(1)
Basic Navigation --- Piloting	185	(6)
Using a speedometer and a depth sounder	186	(1)
Taking a bearing	186	(2)
Fixing your position	188	(1)
Dead reckoning	189	(1)
Figuring in current and leeway	190	(1)
Keeping a log	190	(1)
Grasping Special Piloting Techniques	191	(2)
Danger bearing	191	(1)
Distance off	192	(1)
Navigating in the Fog	193	(1)
Navigating at Night	194	(1)
Lighting up the nighttime sky	194	(1)
Recognizing other boats at night	194	(1)
Using GPS: Electronic Navigation	195	(4)
Chart plotting with GPS	197	(2)
How accurate is GPS?	199	(1)
Wishing on a Star: Celestial Navigation	199	(2)
Anchors Away: Anchoring Your Boat	201	(20)
Looking at a Basic Anchor	202	(2)
Adding chain: Why it helps	203	(1)
The scoop on scope	203	(1)
Picking a Good Place to Anchor	204	(3)
Finding the lee	205	(1)
Avoiding underwater hazards	205	(1)
Keeping an eye on depth and current	206	(1)
Staying away from crowds	206	(1)
Getting Ready to Anchor	207	(2)
Dropping the Anchor	209	(1)
Digging In for Awhile	209	(2)
Retrieving Your Anchor	211	(1)
Anchoring under Sail	212	(1)
Tackling Anchoring Problems	213	(2)
Choosing the Right Anchor	215	(3)
Securing the anchor and rode	216	(1)
Choosing the right anchor line	217	(1)
Maintaining the anchor and rode	218	(1)
Anchoring with all chain	218	(1)
Looking At Advanced Techniques	218	(3)
Doubling up: Two anchors	219	(1)
Anchoring Mediterranean style	220	(1)
Part III: Sailing Fast: Taking Your Sailing to the Next Level	221	(64)
The Need for Speed: Sailing Fast	223	(20)
Understanding Apparent Wind	223	(2)
Sailing Faster: Go-Fast Tips	225	(1)
Steering Faster: Driving Tips	226	(2)
Sailing Flat Is Fast: Ease, Hike, and Trim	228	(3)
Hiking out	229	(1)
Trapezing for speed	230	(1)
Positioning for Proper Fore-and-Aft Trim	231	(1)
Rockin' and Rollin' the Boat	232	(4)
Roll tack	232	(2)
Roll jibe	234	(1)
S-turning in heavy air	235	(1)
You've gotta rock it	236	(1)
Planing and Surfing the Waves	236	(2)
Sailing on a Catamaran	238	(5)
Making your own wind	238	(1)
Flying a hull	239	(1)
Fully battened sails	240	(1)
Tacking made easy	240	(1)
Recovering from a capsize	241	(2)
Trimming Your Sails for Speed	243	(22)
When in Doubt, Let It Out	243	(1)
Relying on Telltales	244	(2)
Shaping Your Sails	246	(1)
Pull That Line --- No, THAT Line	247	(2)
Powering Up Your Sails	249	(5)
Controlling the power	249	(2)
Reducing the power	251	(1)
Trimming the jib	252	(2)
Sailing Fast Downwind	254	(9)
Setting a symmetrical spinnaker	254	(8)
Setting an asymmetrical spinnaker	262	(1)
Losing Control in Strong Winds	263	(2)
Rounding up	263	(1)
Rounding down	264	(1)
Racing Sailboats: Going for the Gold	265	(20)
Winning the Top Trophies in Sailing	266	(3)
The America's Cup	266	(2)
The Olympics	268	(1)
Racing Sailboats All Over the World	269	(5)
Fleet racing: All together now	269	(3)
Distance racing: Point to point	272	(2)
Trying Sailboat Racing: Why Do It?	274	(2)
Racing is for everyone	274	(1)
Racing teaches sportsmanship	274	(1)
Racers are at one with nature	275	(1)
Racers always discover something new	275	(1)
Racing takes place in nice places	276	(1)
Understanding a Sailboat Race	276	(5)
Preparing the boat	276	(1)
Preparing the crew	276	(1)
Entering the race	277	(1)
Getting a good start	278	(1)
Against the wind: The first leg	279	(1)
Around the mark	280	(1)
With the wind: The downwind leg	280	(1)
The finish gun	281	(1)
Knowing the Rules of the Game	281	(1)
How to Win --- or at Least Get Started	282	(3)
Part IV: Sailing Away for a Year and a Day	285	(78)
Encountering Sailing Emergencies (And How to Handle Them)	287	(18)
Running Aground	288	(4)
Prevent those groundings	289	(1)
When you go aground	289	(3)
Jury-Rigging Out of a Bind	292	(1)
Overcoming Sail Problems	293	(1)
Furling blues	294	(1)
Can't get your sail down	294	(1)
Fouling the Prop	294	(1)
Steering Problems	295	(1)
Surviving a Storm	296	(3)
Safety harnesses	296	(1)
Heaving-to and running before it	297	(1)
Avoiding thunder and lightning	298	(1)
Breaking the Mast	299	(1)
Halting Hull Damage	300	(1)
Abandoning Ship	301	(2)
Fighting Fire	303	(2)
Caring for Your Craft	305	(18)
Rapping about Running Rigging	306	(6)
A few lines about line	306	(3)
Sailing gear	309	(3)
Inspecting the Mast	312	(2)
Maintaining Your Sails	314	(2)
Folding sails	314	(1)
Storing sails	315	(1)
Caring for your sails	316	(1)
Caring for the Hull	316	(1)
Looking Under Your Boat	317	(1)
Keeping an Eye on the Engine	318	(1)
Using the engine	318	(1)
Caring for the engine	319	(1)
Leaving Your Boat	319	(4)
Short-term	320	(1)
Long-term	320	(3)
Cruising with Children	323	(14)
Preparing Your Family Crew	324	(1)
Picking the Right Boat and Trip	324	(3)
Choosing a keelboat	325	(1)
Selecting a dinghy	326	(1)
Practicing Safety on the Water	327	(4)
Childproofing your boat	327	(1)
Wearing the right life jackets and safety harnesses	328	(1)
Keeping tabs on the kids	329	(1)
Earning the right to go on their own	330	(1)
Letting Children Help on the Boat	331	(1)
Enjoying a Longer Trip	332	(5)
Sailing with baby	333	(1)
Packing the right gear	334	(1)
Books to bring for you and the kids	334	(3)
Chartering: Changes in Latitude	337	(10)
Knowing What to Expect When You Charter a Boat	337	(5)
Identifying Important Chartering Skills	342	(1)
Using Your Dinghy	343	(1)
Eyeing Popular Cruising Grounds	344	(3)
Sailing Sailboards	347	(16)
Windswimming, Anyone?	348	(3)
Rigging the Board	351	(1)
Making a Not-So-Dry Run	351	(2)
Getting Your Feet (And the Rest of You) Wet	353	(2)
Steering the Board	355	(4)
Getting Back to Shore in Case of Problems	359	(4)
Part V: The Part of Tens	363	(18)
Ten Nautical Knots and How to Tie Them	365	(10)
Ten Questions to Ask Yourself When Buying a Sailboat	375	(6)
Part VI: The Appendixes	381	(20)
Appendix A: Glossary	383	(8)
Appendix B: First Aid Afloat	391	(4)
Appendix C: The Physics of Sailing: Understanding How Sailboats Work	395	(6)
Index	401