KISS Guide to Sailing [Paperback]

Steve Sleight (Author)

Book Description

Series: Keep It Simple Series | Publication Date: September 1, 2001

Kiss the competition goodbye! Broaden your horizons with DK's KISS Guide to Sailing. Find out about the history of sailing and follow the journeys of early traders and explorers. discover where to sail, in which types of boat, and how to hone your skills. Develop your knowledge of the international rules and regulations. Learn about the latest nautical developments, from high-tech materials to racing techniques. Master basic sailing terms, from hulls and foils, to rigs and rudders. Understand what to do if you capsize, and learn key safety tips. The Keep It Simple Series is the new standard in how-to books! Written by leading experts, each book includes full-color photographs and illustrations throughout, making these the first and only truly accessible guides for beginners. The KISS format is designed to help readers build confidence from the start, and learn gradually and thoroughly to the very last page. Much more than introductions to various subjects, these inspiring and innovative books are the ones that readers can trust!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Steve Sleight taught himself to sail at the age of 10, and was teaching others by the time he was 14. Formerly a Royal Yachting Association Coach and instructor at the UK's National Sailing Centre, he has taught dinghy sailing, cruising, and competitive racing both in dinghies and in cruiser/racers. Steve has sailed a wide variety of monohulls and multihulls, ranging in length from 10 feet (3 meters) to 130 feet (45 meters), and has been a successful racing yachtsman, and British National Champion. Steve is an experienced author and broadcaster, and has written extensively on sailing. He lives on his own boat, which he also races and cruises. Dennis Conner has just led his team through an unprecedented eighth America's Cup campaign, after winning the America's Cup four times previously. Conner has been titled United States Yachtsman of the Year four times, and has won many awards, including world championships in boats from 11 feet (3.5 meters) to 80 feet (24 meters), has a still unequaled Star class record, and was twice a winner of the Star World Championships. Conner's other accomplishments and accolades include a bronze medal in the 1976 Olympic Games, a new transatlantic record in the Whitbread Round The World Race, and winning the 2000 New Zealand Etchells National Championships. He is a prolific author and publisher, and now lives in San Diego.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1st edition (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789480522
• ISBN-13: 978-0789480521
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #324,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book from basics to advanced techniques, November 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: KISS Guide to Sailing (Paperback)

I love this book! It starts out with the basics of dingy sailing -- points of sail, etc. However, it soon moves on to more advanced topics like racing and how to get the most power out of your sail. It then moves on to larger boats and has several chapters about navigation, including everything from compasses to GPS. The layout of the book ius very "fun" and it is written in a casual style, making it an enjoyable read. I
If you are a real beginner you may want a book that just sticks more to the basics. But if you know a little bit about sailing and you want to learn more, this is a great book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Value for money, December 1, 2005

By 

John H. Adams "JohnAdams" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: KISS Guide to Sailing (Paperback)

There's lots of information here for not too many dollars. KISS Guide to Sailing is a much bigger, heavier book than you'd expect from a simple sailing primer and it offers a lot more information than I thought it would. Along with the usual dinghy stuff the book covers a whole range of topics that make it pertinent to the moderately experienced harbour sailor as well as the beginner. I've been sailing small keelboats single-handed on Sydney Harbour for about 15 years and it was KISS that finally encouraged me to haul my spinnaker out for the first time. If you're a first timer or need a refresher course, this book is well worth the money.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun armchair sailing lesson, February 5, 2003

By 

"marc25542" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: KISS Guide to Sailing (Paperback)

I am new to sailing, have taken the CYA basic sailing course. This book was an enjoyable read during this long cold winter. Unlike some other sailing books I have read, I found this one easy to sit and read for an afternoon. It covers a lot of detail but keeps it light. Experienced sailors may find it overly simplified, there will be nothing new here for you. For those of us just getting into the sport, or who simply want to enjoy some armchair sailing I would hightly recommend it.