A Sailor's Notebook

This book combines direct, common-sense instruction with tales of experiences sailing a Wianno Senior around Cape Cod. If you've been turned off by the 'straight' how-to-sail books, try this one. It will charm you into learning a lot. "It brings up aspects of sailing that surprise even relatively old hands," says writer Wm. F. Buckley. "It's a delight to read because it conveys the spirit of the sport, the fun and joy of sailing. Full of accounts of adventures on the water, the book is entertaining reading even if one has no wish to learn to sail."

Like Henry David Thoreau, the author has traveled a good deal in a small place. The wisdom he has distilled from his experiences makes his book a small treasure for every reader--aspiring sailor, old salt or simply armchair adventurer. In the conversational, authoritative tone of a patient teacher, he captures the essence of what it takes to harness the wind's rhythms and move a boat across a body of water. He offers practical nautical advice to those who would master this purest form of boating, yet ranges widely through philosophy, aerodynamic theory, naval architecture and geography. The author's breezy tone and ebullient writing convey his message well.

Some chapter titles: Sailing is Simple, Beat Reach and Run, Sailing Alone, Getting from Here to There, Too Much Wind, The Only Way to Buy a Boat, One Small Boat: A Passage Through Time, Racing Tips for the Beginner, Tide, Companionship and Sailing. 11 diagrams and 30 nice sketches. 6" x 9". (2001) $16.95