Rating: 
Summary: I demand to immediately be taken to Bali! ;)
Review: "There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." -The Wind in the WillowsOk, life being short and all, there is not enough time to sail the world in one lifetime. Actually, Washington is a beautiful place to sail, yet, my soul longs for the beach life in Florida. The water is warmer for sure! This book seems more sophisticated than the KISS series by DK. I'd say you could use both. This has a nice easy to use Contents section which lists all the basics so you can find information faster. First Essentials is a chapter about safety, it lists the parts of the boat, essential equipment, how a boat sails, main controls, etc. I found it to be quite good. Then they divide the sailing information up into Dinghies, advanced dinghy sailing and cruiser sailing. The navigation section is rather good with information on charts, compasses, plotting equipment, navigation instruments, buoyage, pilotage, tides and tidal streams, plotting a position and passage skills. Weather, Practical Boat Care and Staying Safe are the last three chapters.
Highlights include: Great diagrams of the parts of a boat.
Learning to tie the six basic knots
Capsize Recovery
Trapeze FUN!
Catamarans
Cruiser Ropework - more advanced
Daily Changes - how to read the sky The author taught himself to sail at age 10 and was teaching others by the time he was age 14. He has taught daysailing, cruising, and competitive racing. Some people sure know how to live the good life. Jonathan McKee was born in Seattle, Washington where he began sailing at the age of 10. I'd imagine this book is a favorite in Seattle. In the case of sailing, knowledge really is freedom. Essential!
Rating: 
Summary: TOO MUCH and TOO LITTLE
Review: ***************************** Table of Contents The Joy of Sailing First Essentials Sailing Dinghies Advanced Dinghy Sailing Cruiser Sailing Navigation Weather Practical Boat Care Staying Safe Back Cover: A superb source of visual reference packed with over 750 full color photographs and detailed diagrams. Covers every aspect involved in sailing and owning a boat--from day sailor's and catamarans to offshore cruisers. Written by a former British National Champion and experienced sailing instructor. ***************************** Reviewer's comments. The above listed Table of Contents does not include the many, many sub-topics discussed. You will use the index in the back of this book, otherwise you may find it difficult to return to your place if this hardbound edition springs closed. The book would seem to be comprehensive. Still, I felt it was a miss. When I ordered this book, I thought this would be a valuable addition to my bookshelf. I now feel I wasted my money. This is primarily because the presentation is poor, and secondarily because many topics are stuffed in, often without adequate detail. The author tries to do too much and obviously cut out substance which should have been included in the process. I felt a lack of cohesiveness due to the avalanche of information. With so many high quality books on sailing available, why settle for a mediocre review of the subject. Many important things were included, but I felt that all of these could be found elsewhere in other better texts. Books should be easy to read. I think this book is good enough that in the hands of a novice, he or she might feel is it everything they need to know. It is not. There are many more subtleties to the information presented. For example, the author only gives brief mention to the topic of broaching, its causes and prevention. One paragraph does not suffice for this topic. In some cases I felt that less is more. For a beginner, too much information is a bad idea. Beginners need to know just enough to get started and then more as time goes on. So I felt that it would be a bad reference for a beginner--there was just too much information and I felt it would sink a novice sailor. Or worse, make him feel he knew everything he needed to know, by reading this book. Each of these topics could be explored in more depth, and should be, before moving too quickly on to the next subject. For more experienced sailors much of this information is readily available in better quality texts such as the Annapolis Book of Seamanship--which has better illustrations, or Chapman's which covers much more material, in greater depth and detail, with about the same level of sleep inducement. These two books cover most of what you need to know. From that point I would recommend studying more focused books on the specific topic you are interested in expanding your knowledge-racing, cruising, yacht repair, etc. I did like some of the drawings, and the particular the depth in which docking was described. This is a big problem area for most of my students. I felt the diagrams were too small and the eye was led to other diagrams before each could be properly examined. I found it difficult to focus on any one diagram. Frankly, I couldn't study them all because the page was too busy to read properly. This book does touch on the subject of mast bend-a topic often ignored in other text-again I felt this topic deserved more attention-but it was covered, unlike many other books. I think a classroom or on the water is a better place to learn much of what is discussed in the book. DANGER: Readers should ignore the author's description of a man over-board recovery suggestion and instead study the ASA or USS quick stop methodology for a more practical, tested, and proven Man Over Board method. I urge all sailors to practice this method until it is second nature. The author does a credible job of discussing actually getting the man back on board but does not specifically mention the Life-Sling and its associated block and tackle products, which were designed for this purpose. I recommend these products also. Buy this book if you are a dedicated intermediate or advanced intermediate sailor searching to fill holes in your knowledge. You should be at least an intermediate sailor with an inquiring mind. Use it as a staring point to broaden your knowledge base, and later focus more study effort into areas the interest you. Use it like an encyclopedia to begin research on a topic before moving on to more focused books. Do not buy this book if you are a beginner. I do recommend this book be used as a gift for a friend who sails, unless you are trying to get rid of it like a white elephant. This is the one book on sailing on my bookshelf I could part with. Smooth Sailing Bart Senior
Rating:
Summary: TOO MUCH and TOO LITTLE
Review: ***************************** Table of Contents The Joy of Sailing First Essentials Sailing Dinghies Advanced Dinghy Sailing Cruiser Sailing Navigation Weather Practical Boat Care Staying Safe Back Cover: A superb source of visual reference packed with over 750 full color photographs and detailed diagrams. Covers every aspect involved in sailing and owning a boat--from day sailor's and catamarans to offshore cruisers. Written by a former British National Champion and experienced sailing instructor. ***************************** Reviewer's comments. The above listed Table of Contents does not include the many, many sub-topics discussed. You will use the index in the back of this book, otherwise you may find it difficult to return to your place if this hardbound edition springs closed. The book would seem to be comprehensive. Still, I felt it was a miss. When I ordered this book, I thought this would be a valuable addition to my bookshelf. I now feel I wasted my money. This is primarily because the presentation is poor, and secondarily because many topics are stuffed in, often without adequate detail. The author tries to do too much and obviously cut out substance which should have been included in the process. I felt a lack of cohesiveness due to the avalanche of information. With so many high quality books on sailing available, why settle for a mediocre review of the subject. Many important things were included, but I felt that all of these could be found elsewhere in other better texts. Books should be easy to read. I think this book is good enough that in the hands of a novice, he or she might feel is it everything they need to know. It is not. There are many more subtleties to the information presented. For example, the author only gives brief mention to the topic of broaching, its causes and prevention. One paragraph does not suffice for this topic. In some cases I felt that less is more. For a beginner, too much information is a bad idea. Beginners need to know just enough to get started and then more as time goes on. So I felt that it would be a bad reference for a beginner--there was just too much information and I felt it would sink a novice sailor. Or worse, make him feel he knew everything he needed to know, by reading this book. Each of these topics could be explored in more depth, and should be, before moving too quickly on to the next subject. For more experienced sailors much of this information is readily available in better quality texts such as the Annapolis Book of Seamanship--which has better illustrations, or Chapman's which covers much more material, in greater depth and detail, with about the same level of sleep inducement. These two books cover most of what you need to know. From that point I would recommend studying more focused books on the specific topic you are interested in expanding your knowledge-racing, cruising, yacht repair, etc. I did like some of the drawings, and the particular the depth in which docking was described. This is a big problem area for most of my students. I felt the diagrams were too small and the eye was led to other diagrams before each could be properly examined. I found it difficult to focus on any one diagram. Frankly, I couldn't study them all because the page was too busy to read properly. This book does touch on the subject of mast bend-a topic often ignored in other text-again I felt this topic deserved more attention-but it was covered, unlike many other books. I think a classroom or on the water is a better place to learn much of what is discussed in the book. DANGER: Readers should ignore the author's description of a man over-board recovery suggestion and instead study the ASA or USS quick stop methodology for a more practical, tested, and proven Man Over Board method. I urge all sailors to practice this method until it is second nature. The author does a credible job of discussing actually getting the man back on board but does not specifically mention the Life-Sling and its associated block and tackle products, which were designed for this purpose. I recommend these products also. Buy this book if you are a dedicated intermediate or advanced intermediate sailor searching to fill holes in your knowledge. You should be at least an intermediate sailor with an inquiring mind. Use it as a staring point to broaden your knowledge base, and later focus more study effort into areas the interest you. Use it like an encyclopedia to begin research on a topic before moving on to more focused books. Do not buy this book if you are a beginner. I do recommend this book be used as a gift for a friend who sails, unless you are trying to get rid of it like a white elephant. This is the one book on sailing on my bookshelf I could part with. Smooth Sailing Bart Senior
Rating:
Summary: An objective testement
Review: Here is one that stands out among the many. Steve Sleight's book "The Complete Sailing Manual" takes no chances at overstatement. The design and layout of the subject from the most elementary to the most sophisticated is managed with charm and grace. Each section teaches and inset boxes confirm. A glossary aids short memories. Little by little the reader is delighted into learning a great deal about sailing in a little space. The illustrations are clear and entertaining. The photographs well selected and nicely shown. It was a pleasure reading the book. I'll read it again.
Rating:
Summary: An objective testement
Review: Here is one that stands out among the many. Steve Sleight's book "The Complete Sailing Manual" takes no chances at overstatement. The design and layout of the subject from the most elementary to the most sophisticated is managed with charm and grace. Each section teaches and inset boxes confirm. A glossary aids short memories. Little by little the reader is delighted into learning a great deal about sailing in a little space. The illustrations are clear and entertaining. The photographs well selected and nicely shown. It was a pleasure reading the book. I'll read it again.
Rating:
Summary: An objective testement
Review: Here is one that stands out among the many. Steve Sleight's book "The Complete Sailing Manual" takes no chances at overstatement. The design and layout of the subject from the most elementary to the most sophisticated is managed with charm and grace. Each section teaches and inset boxes confirm. A glossary aids short memories. Little by little the reader is delighted into learning a great deal about sailing in a little space. The illustrations are clear and entertaining. The photographs well selected and nicely shown. It was a pleasure reading the book. I'll read it again.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and Practical
Review: I found this book to be well thought out, organized, quite thorough, but easy to read and understand. Covers everything you need to know about sailing - a very practical manual.
Rating: 
Summary: A good beginners overview
Review: I think all the DK series books are interesting to read. Sailing is such a varied topic that illustrations are important to help the reader quickly grasp the concepts. I read and enjoyed Sailing for Dummies, but wish I had bought the DK Complete Saiing Manual first. I used it to supplement my sailing lessons. Although it is not as in-depth as Chapman's, I feel this is a great book to introduce beginning sailors to the many areas of sailing such as sailing basics, weather and cruising. Once a reader has the overall basics from this book, then learning the extensive details offered in a volume such as Chapman's will seem more easily digestible.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good turned into New
Review: It was great to receive my new book within two weeks of ordering. I had it shipped by the cheapest way. It was rated has Very Good condition and showed up in New condition.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent balance - tons of information - fun to read
Review: The biggest challenge facing the author of any sailing text is to communicate comprehensive information on a technical subject in a manner that is still readable. Many of them fail at this, being either too dry for most people to read or not sufficiently comprehensive to be very useful. Steve Sleight's Complete Sailing Manual is one of the most informative and engaging books on sailing I have ever encountered. The writing is highly articulate and flows in a manner that draws the reader into each topic. It is sprinkled throughout with gem-like details of seamanship, history and personal experience that expose the author's formidable knowledge of sailing, communicating and teaching. It can be used as a reference or text -- read and enjoyed from cover to cover or kept on board to be used when you need to look something up. The subjects range from dinghy and high performance sailing to racing, design considerations, all aspects of cruising, navigating, weather, storms, maintenance, safety, line handling and very much more. Each is handled thoroughly, and presents specific details that most writers are not sufficiently articulate to include. There are excellent sections on anchoring and docking under power or sail with consideration given to almost any possible wind and current strength and direction. Included is a discussion on techniques for using warps to turn a boat at a dock or on a med-moor. The work is a beautiful balance between images (clear precise diagrams as well as excellent photos) and text. In short it is a complete sailing manual - extremely responsible in its content and fun to read. As the director of one of the largest sailing schools in the United States, I am very pleased to have discovered this treasure and plan to use it as a text for our more advanced courses. Dave Franzel Director Boston Sailing Center
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