The Craft of Sail: A Primer of Sailing (Paperback)

~ Jan E. Adkins (Author) "What makes a sailboat go?..." (more)

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Walker & Company (January 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802772145
• ISBN-13: 978-0802772145
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #202,561 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #32 in

  Books > Outdoors & Nature > Outdoor Recreation > Sailing > Instructional

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent conceptual approach that cuts to the chase., August 16, 1999

By	Jeff Harper "jeffharper" (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Adkins begins where he ought to, with the underlying basic principles of how sails work. After that, details that might otherwise be confusing or a mere memorization chore fall into place and make sense. His small, heavily illustrated book is succinct, and each page, though clear, requires a lot of thought before turning. One other note: he addresses the principles that allow a boat to sail at a close angle to the wind much better than the other sailing authors I have read, who were generally off a bit in their understanding of the physics. (They typically confused the results of air collision with Bernoulli's principle.) It's a book for novices, but I think most sailors, even many experts, would benefit from the careful thought it exhibits and provokes. And it's cheap for what you get.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, May 4, 2000

By	Mary Bigelow (VT) - See all my reviews

Thoughtful, thorough, and visually beautiful, especially if you like old boats. Those who believe thay must wear lycra suit rather than old t shirt and shorts to go, say, biking or to go sailing might not find it glitzy enough. I have bought four of them. One to replace our tattered copy at home, one for public library and two for favorite young relatives

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a lovely, lovely book, February 28, 2000

By A Customer

Jan Adkin's book shows a gift for teaching as well as illustration, and his style is literate, rather pedagogical. Because I am new to sailing, I brougt home many books from the library that I hoped would be helpful. The Craft of Sail was better than any of the others.