Customer Reviews

Catamaran Racing: For the 90's

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I find myself reviewing this book before I hit the water. After I return from the day's sailing I refer to it again to try and understand how I can improve on what I done that day. Rick White and Mary Wells have the ability to clearly explain the basics of boat handing and racing tactics in readable and direct language. The book is not afraid of stating an opinion where there are several points of views. It also discusses these views. I recommend this book to anyone at any level of catmaran sailing.

A very well rounded book that covers the fundamentals, as well as specific hints on the various boats out there (Prindle, Nacra, Hobie, etc.). While it is not designed to be a "cheat sheet" on going fast, there are a few things I re-read - namely off-wind tactics. Due to the inherent differences between Cats and monos, there are a few things I needed to un-learn to get faster. I'm no Worrell 1000 winner, but this book has moved me from the "How do they get so far ahead?" to "nipping at their heels". And it has certainly helped fill the trophy case..

The section on spinnakers is a little weak, but still will get you going downwind fast.

All in all, this book will teach the intermediate sailor (or advanced sailor with little cat experience) enough to stay within sight of the pack leaders. The rest you'll have to learn from those guys. Tuning your rig/tactics/crew is what wins races, and these are so varied that it's actually better that the book doesn't cover this - so not as to confuse sailors too much.

SPECIAL NOTE: Due to the publishing date, this book is sadly lax in it's instruction on several newer boats - namely the I-20, F-18 class, Hobie Tiger/Fox. Several new ideas have emerged that seem to work, but you'll have to learn that on your own out on the course! ;-)

Rick White is the master of communicating how to sail a catamaran. This book mirrors his seminars and videos. I think the video series might even be an even better starting point for most catamaran sailors because much of book is about how-to activities that should be visualized and practiced.

Loved this book. I have sailed a cruising catamaran for the last 20 years, and I thought I knew it all :)
I particularly liked the chapters on sail interaction. The knowledge will be useful even for cruising.
Recommended!

This book is a must-read if you own a catamaran, and want to learn how to operate it. I want to high-light 3 items from the book that were valuable advice to me, and that I have since taught to other enthusiastic sailors:

- how to do a roll tack. A precise description on how to do a windsurfer-like tack manoeuver. Comes with an explanation of why the boat does what it does, and instructions on how to trim the boat. A definite improvement over my previous approach: turn boat, go in irons, have wave go over crew, go backwards, resume sailing...

- how to trim the sails using the tell-tales. The book explained to me what these little ribbons on the sail actually do.

- how to right the boat after a capsize. In this case, I recommend a coach to show you what to do. But, it is certainly good to review the steps in a book, when you are not freezing, and no 150kg boat is falling on your head.

At 2% of the price of a Kevlar sail, the book is a cost-effective performance enhancement of your boat.

Who needs this book:
If you are beyond learning how to sail (ie. which ropes to pull and how to hoist the mainsail).
If you want (or need) to go faster.
If you want to enjoy sailing, not wrestling your boat.
You sail or crew on a beach cat!

What do you get from it:
Learn what makes your boat "go" or slow.
(Painful) Mistakes, and how to avoid them.
How to "think right" (hard to explain) in theory so you get it right on the water!

Catamaran Sailing for the Nineties. It may sound dated in this millennium, but you would definitely be missing out on some excellent info if that deterred you from buying this excellent value for money book.

Rick and Mary have a great writing style. They somehow know how to take complicated theoretical problems and conjure up images in your mind. Some books are dry and theoretical, not so with this one! Because of their graphinc writing style, you can almost see exactly what they are explaining unfold in your head. Perhaps it could be a bit too much for an absolute beginner, but after a season of sailing, they too should be craving for more speed and control!
There are also a lot of diagrams to help those that need help visualize what is going on.
All in all, I am convinced that anyone (who does not already have a cupbourd full of olympic gold medals) that reads this and tests it out on the water will be a better sailor for it.

I got this book a week after I entered my first race. I had raced monohulls before but this was my first cat race. Lots of amazing tips for any level. Read this before your next race and you will be sure to pick off a few more compettitors..... I learned a lot and can use the tactics and techniques every time I go sailing wether I am racing or not. I would strongly recomend this book.

Hi folks,

First of all I'll have to confess that I haven't read the whole book yet, but it's a must-own book for beach-cat sailors. This book is the closest you can come to the beac-cat sailors bible.

The book has covered such a great amount fo material in an easy and explaining way, with humour as a common agent. The don't's and musts of catamaran sailing is marked with fat types so you'll easy remember wath to do or what you must never do xD .

For crew the text is often sumed up so it's easy to scum the text.

I'll say, at the end, the book is worth every penny for experienced sailors as for newbeeies. Have fun :)

This book has all the info i was looking for in an easy to read format.