Top 10 MUST read books for sailing

[Lake-Effect]

Surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet, but I'm going to recommend "Sailing for Dummies" as one 'all-about-sailing' book that would be useful for beginners.

Two reasons:

1. It actually is a good, well-written, all-round book on sailing. I't put it on a par or slightly above some other beginning books, such as "The Complete Sailor".
2. It's big fun to pull this book and be staring at it (preferably upside down) whenever you have newbies aboard, and are just about to cast off.

I also like the Calder maintenance book, when you finally get your first boat.


Chapman or Bowditch aren't the first books I'd get. They're maybe the last, to help you win arguments in seaside bars.

[elses_pels]

I found "Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat: A Guide to Essential Features, Handling, and Gear " john Vigor, a really good book to know what to check before going offshore. If you look at youtube channels you are often the opposite of Vigor's advice

https://www.amazon.com/Seaworthy-Off...DCF46F7671C901

[rnnoft]

Annapolis book of seamanship
Chapman’ piloting
Boat owners electric and mechanical manual

All 3 a wealth of info
I have a few others I would have to find to post the title author etc, but they mostly deal with sail trim, etc

Also look at whatever online boating safety courses are offered by the state you are in. Here they are offered by Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries and are part of registering your vessel.
Good luck!

[Ringmaster]

"The optimum Sailboat. Racing the cruiser and cruising the racer". Best sailing book I have.

[Schapera]

Slocum’s I’m Around The World. That’s my no.1!

[WSMFP]

No one mentioned any of the fatty goodlander books? I guess those are more cruising than sailing but Creative Anchoring and Storm Proofing Your Boat are pretty good.

[guthrie101]

The Venturesome Voyages of Captain Voss

[sailorladd]

Cruising under sail, Days of Deja vu, personal biographies of cruising sailors...

[Simon B]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Given you are starting from scratch, I would suggest something from the Competent Crew and Day Skipper syllabus of the Royal Yachting Association or the US equivalent, before any of the above. Learn the basics first.


https://www.rya.org.uk/shop/pages/pr...-handbook-sail

Where is NOLA

Pete

Offshore Sailing by Dick McClary, RYA. Witty very interesting and very helpful. It will answer many questions for beginners and then you will ask much more concrete questions.

[Simon B]

Survive the Savage Sea. Robertson.

[Godshalk]

You've received the names of most of the classic non-fiction books. You must also read "Riddle of the Sands."

[s/v Jedi]

All for free now: https://setsail.com/free-books/

[DuncanWells]

Thank you to Captain Puget and canyonbat for your kind comments about Stress Free Sailing - Duncan Wells.

[shantycrew]

We started from where you are now, and eventually spent 4 years cruising the Caribbean. Then we wrote a book about our trials and tribulations and our adventure. You can find our book on Amazon it's called "Sailors to Seadogs" how we went from Novices to navigators, Oh and we began in our 60's.

[umi]

Originally Posted by bobnlesley

Anything and everything EXCEPT Adlard Coles Heavy Weather Sailing; if you read that you'll never dare to go offshore!

Very true