Sailing Fundamentals [Paperback]

Gary Jobson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 1, 2005

Written by America's foremost instructional authority, the new edition of Sailing Fundamentals combines the training programs of the American Sailing Association and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The official learn-to-sail manual of the American Sailing Association, it is also used in the programs of many yacht clubs, colleges, and sailing groups. Unlike most introductory sailing books, which reflect the biases and idiosyncrasies of their authors, Sailing Fundamentals has been extensively pretested by ASA professional instructors to ensure that it offers the fastest, easiest, most systematic way to learn basic sailing and basic coastal cruising. This book covers every aspect of beginning sailing -- from hoisting sail to docking and anchoring -- and specifically prepares the learner to qualify for sailing certification according to international standards. Widely acclaimed author Gary Jobson has won several major races, including the 1977 America's Cup victory as tactician aboard Courageous. He was head sailing coach at the U.S. Naval Academy, and has conducted sailing clinics across the country. Illustrated step-by-step in two colors with over 150 line drawings and photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Published under the pennants of the American Sailing Association and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Sailing Fundamentals is an excellent guide for novice sailors ready to get their feet wet. This comprehensive manual helps beginners learn basic sailing and coastal cruising with step-by-step instructions for everything from hoisting the sail to docking. Written with clear prose by Gary Jobson--tactician aboard the 1977 America's Cup-winning Courageous--Sailing Fundamentals is specially designed to help sailors qualify for ASA certification--essential if you wish to charter a boat.

Necessary reading for novice sailors--and an excellent reference for intermediate to advanced sailors. --M. Stein --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Gary Jobson lives in Annapolis, Maryland.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743273087
• ISBN-13: 978-0743273084
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Sailing

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 84 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars This book was a great review and certification training December 11, 2000

By Jean Junker

Format:Paperback

I had been sailing for only three years when I got this book as part of a sailing certification course I took at the North Texas Sailing School on Lake Ray Hubbard in Dallas. This is a great "how to sail" book and is the course material for the American Sailing Association (A.S.A.) course that I took. It did a good job of teaching all the requisite sailing skills and terminology. I would recommend it for general use in learning to sail at a basic skill level.

The Book includes numerous black and white photographs and lots of illustrations and diagrams to teach the skills required for the course. The book is divided into several sections that are used to teach three separate ASA certified courses. The sections are: Introduction to Sailing, Basic Sailing, Safety and Seamanship, Basic Seamanship Skills, Basic Coastal Cruising I, Basic Coastal Cruising II and Special Sailing Information. The book contains a good glossary and sailing terminology guide (very helpful for novices) and a good index. Review questions for each chapter or chapter series are included as well as answers to all the questions.

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tried and Tested Material August 4, 2000

By Conrad B. Senior

Format:Paperback

This is American Sailing Association textbook for beginning sailors and closely tied to the ASA certification program.

Why should you consider certification? Many people don't want to own a boat and prefer to charter. This is more economical than boat ownership.

To have the freedom to charter anywhere in the world you need to be able to prove to the charter companies that you know what you are doing. That is where certification comes in.

An ASA certification is a big plus when you are in Hawaii on vacation and want to rent a keelboat for a couple of hours. Or if you want to charter a big boat in the British Virgin Islands for a week. Try to do that without a certification! The major plus of this book is that it teaches you how to sail with all the information you need to learn in the proper order you should learn it. There is an advantage in learning the material in a time tested manner. This book gets the benefit of tried and true, tested, proven methods of sailing instruction that work. The material is presented in the order in which you should learn it

Reading the book and then taking the course will give you a jump start on your sailing skills.

Most sailors have knowledge like Swiss cheeze--with lots of holes. The books will give you knowledge like American cheeze--no holes.

Buy the book--you won't regret it. Read it and take the course for maximum effectiveness.

This is the path to skill, safety, and confidence on the water.

76 of 89 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars don't buy if you are not taking the ASA certification October 13, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I bought the book for general sailing information. I found that a lot of the content is specifically geared to the certification requirements for ASA. If you are not going to certify or sail in the US then you will find yourself skipping US-specific pages and maybe losing on content in the process. Everything is spelled out to an excruciating detail. A book for those who haven't been in a boat ever before in their life.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Needs an edit August 8, 2004

By D. L. Blake

Format:Paperback

Although the content of this book is useful, it is a difficult read because of poor editing. There are numerous typographical errors which could easily be corrected. Occasionally, there are terms used that have not been defined, although synomyms have been (e.g. "forestay" is referenced but only "headstay" is defined). However, one of the most cumbersome problems to deal with is the reference to illustrations. Illustrations are not numbered which makes it more difficult to find the proper one to look at on many pages where there are multiples. Additionally, there are numbered objects referenced in the text that do not appear with numbers in the illustrations. Certainly, with effort one can work their way through the text and learn from it, but it could be much smoother to do with a small amount of work from an editor.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Beginners Book November 16, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I read this book early in my first experiences with keel-boats. It is written simply and brings the total novice up to the point where he or she can apply their knowledge with some minimal guidance and sail a boat. After a day or two with this type of experience, they would certainly be fine on their own, as long as they don't plan to challenge their skills. A great book, for the novice, but don't forget to invest a few bucks in references to help you advance beyond the basics!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent primer August 4, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book covers the fundamentals, as agreed on by several authorities, succinctly and clearly. The thing that sets this apart from the rest is that it's layout is tailored to meet the requirements of the ASA and USGS certification and is used as their official textbook.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars too hastily assembled by the ASA... December 13, 2004

By Larry G. Arvidson

Format:Paperback

Very poorly edited & proofread; numerous errors & omissions make for distracting & frustrating reading that undermines confidence in the material. Buy, read and enjoy "The Complete Sailor" instead.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars best book for begining sailers December 29, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book will teach you the baisics of sailing in a way thats easy to understand. Theirs a lot to learn if your a beginer. Gary Jobson did a good job of simplifying it a little.