Sailing for Dummies (Paperback)

~ (Author), Peter Isler (Author) "Have you ever listened in on the conversation of two sailors?..." (more)
Key Phrases: control line system, smaller keelboats, righting line, America's Cup, San Diego, New Zealand (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Attention landlubbers: If you don't know your port from your starboard, tacking from jibing, then you need to experience clear sailing with the Dummies. With the usual cargo of good humor and demystifying tone, this mast in the Dummies armada lifts the fog on confusing nautical language, teaches the basics about maneuvering a sailboat from dock to open ocean, floats important safety information, and offers advice and info on a variety of related issues (knots, racing, sailboards, how to buy a sailboat). Whether you want to learn to sail or just talk like a sailor, Sailing for Dummies is your anchor to life on the water.

Product Description

The only thing you won't find in Sailing For Dummies is a sailboat. Otherwise, authors JJ and Peter Isler provide you with all the information you need to go sailing or watch and enjoy sailing events such as the America's Cup. A textbook, user's manual, and reference book all in one, Sailing For Dummies introduces you to the authors' own favorite cruising destinations, shows you how to tie knots, and even how to dress. Thanks to the Islers' expertise, you'll know a sailboard from a catamaran, a schooner from a yawl. If you've never sailed before, here's the primer you need to get started and choose the right sailing school for you. If you've already gotten your feet wet, you'll now be ready to take your next steps -- whether they include sailing around the world, racing, or just safely including your children in the adventure.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; illustrated edition edition (May 23, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076455039X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764550393
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #450,237 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and entertaining summary of sailing!!, August 2, 1999

By A Customer

As a novice sailor, I found this book to contain an introduction to everything I needed to know about sailing. The Isler couple, both world class sailors, spice up the material with personal amusing anecdotes of their sailing experiences (and occasional mishaps). Plenty of illustrations add to the book's educational value. I can't imagine a better intro book to the subject.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sailing for Dummies, January 15, 2003

By A Customer

This is an excellent sailing textbook - as the cover states it's "A Reference for the Rest of Us!" That is, it can be used as a beginner's book and then kept for use as a reference manual. I have read and re-read this book several times and each time I re-read it, something I didn't understand or fully comprehend "jumps out at me" and I become a better sailor because of the information contained within and imparted by this book.
Also, some people know their subject but are unable to teach others what they know. Both JJ and Peter not only know their subject, sailing, but are also very adept at transferring that knowledge to their readers, sailors and wannabe sailors!

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, Simple and Interesting ... a great beginners book, February 25, 2001

By	Allan M. Gathercoal "fdoamerica" (Norcross, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I used this text as a secondary supplement for an American Sailing Association "sailing certification" , and I found it refreshingly helpful. Well known today, and with hundreds of titles, the "For Dummies® Books" collection offers you valuable basic information on hundreds of subjects, from "Accounting for Dummies" to "Yoga for Dummies".

"For Dummies® Books" strive to make a subject enjoyable to read, interesting and simple enough to understand so anyone can grasp the concept . In "Sailing For Dummies", J. J. Isler and Peter Isler accomplish just that: enjoyable, interesting and simple. This is a very basic text for the first 140 pages, then, for the remainder of the book, the Islers add to your foundational knowledge of sailing ending with subjects such as: sailboat racing, chartering and buying a boat.

"Sailing For Dummies" is livened up by the use of cartoons, interesting quips and quotes and engaging icons found throughout the book in the margins. The icons denote sections of information that promote "tips", "safety", "danger", "nautical words", "sailing stories", etc. Add the above with b&w photos, great diagrams and an excellent index, and you have a book valuable to any novice who wants to know more about sailing. Recommended.