Sailing: A Beginner's Guide

Sailing is a wonderful sport, it takes place in the open air, on the water and is powered by something that's free and eco-friendly – the wind! It is a sport for life: captivating children and giving them a sense of responsibility as they skipper their own boat and continuing to give pleasure well beyond retirement, whether it be competing against others or taking it more gently.

Using this book you can get afloat, learn to sail and start having fun using the step-by-step advice, photo sequences and diagrams. This jargon-free guide allows 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.

Originally published as 'Learn to Sail', it now forms part of Fernhurst Books' series of Beginner's Guides covering surfing, SUP and inflatable kayaking. It can be used on its own or as a compliment to traditional sailing courses run by sailing schools everywhere.

Praise for Sailing: A Beginner's Guide

"An excellent guide for the beginner sailor… The detailed photographs are a welcome addition to support the textual descriptions… Each section is complemented with 'top tips' and concluded with key learning points… A nice reference book and good read for the amateur sailor."
— 2000 Class Association

About the Author

Tim Hore is a qualified Yachting Association senior dinghy instructor. He is an experienced dinghy sailor and offshore yachtsman.

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.