New Crew's Pocketbook

Going aboard a sailing yacht for the first time is an exciting experience, but it can be a bit daunting. It introduces you to many unknowns: terra firma is left behind, the boat is propelled by something you can't see (the wind), there are ropes everywhere and a whole new vocabulary opens up! Your skipper will brief you on the key things you need to know, but this book is a great opportunity to learn a bit beforehand which will give you the basic knowledge to work the boat, be safe, have fun… and be asked back for more! Written in a friendly and approachable way, it assumes no nautical knowledge and uses diagrams and photographs to demystify the art of sailing. Devised to be read by new crew before they arrive at the boat, it is also great to keep on board as a quick and easy reference guide.

Ideal for skippers to give to anyone joining them on board for the first time. As soon as a person steps aboard they are crewing: drawn into casting off, hoisting sails, winching and even steering. It's impossible to cover everything in your briefing, so any knowledge they can gain beforehand is a blessing and will make your yacht a happier, safer place for everyone. Additional chapters covering spinnaker handling are available online.

Praise for New Crew's Pocketbook

"The book delivers on its promises of providing the basics to crew on a boat, keep safe and have fun… Throughout there are excellent diagrams and clear colour photographs to illustrate the text"
— Cruising Association

"This book would be a great one to have on board and to share with potential first-time crew prior to departure… It is a virtual Competent Crew course in a pocketsize offering."
— Moody Owners' Association

"The New Crew's Pocketbook is a useful little sailing book intended to be read in advance of a first sailing trip and kept for reference thereafter… Effective use is made of diagrams and photographs."
— Yachting Monthly

"The book is nice and simple in its format and provides an introduction to the vocabulary of sailing and a useful reference point for a new sailor seeking to find their bearings aboard. The book has a friendly and approachable tone and is in no way condescending. The text is also nicely broken up with illustrations and diagrams."
— Sailing Today

About the Author

Tim Davison has owned 20 Lasers over 40 years and medalled at World and European championships. He has won the British Moth National Championships 5 times and cruised extensively from Sweden to Turkey and across the Atlantic. He is author of over 18 sailing books, with The Laser Book being his first and most successful, and the title that launched Fernhurst Books when first published in 1979.

About Fernhurst Books

Fernhurst Books was founded in 1979, initially publishing books related to dinghy racing. The list soon expanded to include cruising and other watersports. In 2006 the business was sold to John Wiley, but in 2013 a group of sailing enthusiasts (including the original founder) bought the list and name back, once again creating an independent nautical publisher owned and run by sailors. Fernhurst continues to publish books that instruct, inform and inspire those with a passion on, in or under the water. Their 140+ titles range from how-to guides to narrative to coffee-table books, covering sailing, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, swimming, diving and fishing.