Customer Reviews

Sails: The Way They Work and How to Make Them

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I've been sailing for 40+ years - raced dinghies up to boats across the Gulf of Mexico and this is the first time I ran into a clear (believable) explanation of how the sails work. Airplane wing - it takes longer on the curved side - Bernoulli - low pressure =s lift. I'm an engineer and have lived with that forever - but although a sail may be shaped like the upper edge of a plane's wing - it doesn't have any thickness - therefor there is not much difference. How does THAT explanation account for the lift? As an engineer I can only say Thank You Derek Harvey for a better and more believable explanation (I hope your right!).

His explanations of what adjustments to make to the sail under varying conditions were most helpful. I only wish he had made an easy reference sheet. I also found it useful to know why then sail makers do the things they do. I will consider it a valuable tool in helping me decide what boat, and what sails to buy in my current search.

Not only do I recommend it to others I am buying a second copy for my son who has just made the varsity racing team at the Coast Guard Academy. `nough said.

I was looking for a book on sail design and repair.Although there is a lot of good information in this book, Half the book is used up describing different types of rigs and early sail history. I was disappointed with the content for my purposes (sail repairs,maintainence and modifications) I later found: Sailmakers Apprentice by Emiliano Marino, and Sail Care and Repair,by Dan Neri. Now for me,these are worth having!! I can't see looking at this book again. Sorry, but it was a poor choice for me.