Learn to Sail

Step-by-step advice takes you through everything you need to know to get afloat and start having fun.

This is a jargon-free guide, allowing complete novices to get out on the water with the minimum of fuss. One- and two-person dinghies are covered, along with rigging, knots, safety, handling and much more. Photo sequences and diagrams make learning easy – this really is the simplest way to start sailing.

Introduction 7

Know Your Boat 9

Knots 27

Your Sailing Environment and Safety 33

Rules of the Road 51

Rigging 63

Reefing 83

Points of Sailing 95

Key Factors 105

Beach Launching and Recovery 127

Pontoon Launching and Recovery 149

Your First Sail (basic controls) 169

How to Tack 183

Capsize and Recovery 199

How to Gybe 213

Asymmetric Spinnaker 229

Glossary 250