UCLA Marina Aquatic Center - Sailing Reading

SAILING READING LIST

Below are just a few of the many books and magazines about sailing that may help you to learn more about this sport. These and many others should be readily available at your local library, marine supply store or major bookstore’s boating section. Or, better yet, just click on the link and/or image of each and order it from Amazon.com.
Every purchase made through these links earns UCLA Sailing a small referral fee without costing you any extra.
You can become a better sailor and help support sailing at UCLA!

The Basics	Fiction	Laser
Magazines	Marlinespike Seamanship	Movies
Non-Fiction	Racing	Sail Trim
The Science of Sailing	Seamanship & Navigation	Weather

THE BASICS
Used throughout America as a comprehensive textbook, this is an excellent reference that emphasizes standard skills and proven methods.	An excellent beginning to intermediate reference book that takes you from beginning dinghy sailing to racing, to the fundamentals of cruising. Excellent illustrations show many techniques step-by-step.	A classic of sailing knowledge since 1956 with excellent illustrations.
Part of the very successful "... For Dummies" series this starts you off with the basics and brings you up through advanced techniques, chartering, and even buying your own boat.	The official learn-to-sail book of the United States Sailing Association.	A complete course for the beginner and experienced sailor who wants to become more skilled in the arts of cats.
	The Official Rules of the Road. Learn it, Live it, Love it. . . .

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SAIL TRIM
Tom Whidden, chief North Sails guru, discusses all manner of sails from 12-meters to sailboards.	From Sail magazine a compilation of sail trim articles.	Explains sail trim and hull/rig/sail interaction in technical terms. For intermediate to advanced sailors.

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RACING
The official rule book from the governing body of our sport.	Assuming you have mastered the basics in tactics and strategy, this book takes sailing theory to a higher level.	Paul Elvstrom has been explaining the rules since 1965 and this edition, like its precessors comes with the famous plastic boats and wind arrows.
So you have the official rule book and it’s all Greek to you? Perry explains the rules using clear examples of how the NEW rules are applied and how they have changed the game. Contains the Official text of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) [US Sailing’s international partner] Racing Rules.	Dave Perry explains how to put the rules to use and develop the basics of tactics to succeed on the race course.	A definitive book on multihulls -- informative to the beginner and interesting to the expert. Including comments from various class experts — covers cat racing tactics, techniques and tuning techniques.
Gary Jobson and Tom Whidden distill their experiences from thousands of races into one book.	Dr. Walker’s classic text on racing tactics.	This takes up where "The Tactics of Small Boat Racing" leaves off.

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MARLINE SPIKE SEAMANSHIP
An excellent, comprehensive book of knots and rope craft with clear directions and photographs.	Covers tools, basic knots, handsewing and canvas work.	The "bible" of knot and rope work. Encyclopedic in scope.
<br> First published in 1956, Smith's explanations and illustrations stand the test of time. The original illustrations are a marvel of clarity and charm.	A collection of ideas and tips from a master rigger for modern and classic sailing vessels.	Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Modern and Traditional Rigging

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SEAMANSHIP AND NAVIGATION
First published in 1802, this is the final reference for the navigator filled with all sorts of useful nautical arcana.	The "Bible of Boating," considered indispensable by boaters for over half a century.	Covers piloting, dead reckoning, celestial navigation. . . . etc. For students of navigation, this is the textbook.

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WEATHER
A seaman-like survey of weather basics that doesn't require expertise in meteorology.		A professional oceanographer discusses meteorology, ocean currents, ship dynamics and more.

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FOR THE SCIENTIFIC TYPES. . .
The classic reference work examining the fundamental factors governing a hull's behavior and the principles underlying aero and hydrodynamics. Not for the mathematically challenged. . .	Seaworthiness is a highly readable critical analysis of how the search for racing yacht performance has led to the development of sailing yachts with potentially dangerous seakeeping characteristics.	This reference offers the latest information on rig design, sail construction and trim, wind-sail interaction, and the structure of the wind. Marchaj describes how these factors affect sail power and why certain rigs are superior in power and efficiency.

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Fiction
The first in a series that follows the adventures of a ship’s captain and his friend, a surgeon, aboard ship in the Royal Navy in the late 18th century. Beware, you just might get hooked. . . The complete Aubrey/Maturin series	The first of eleven swashbuckling Hornblower tales that are today regarded as classic adventure stories of the sea. The complete Hornblower series	Moby Dick, the classic is better than you remember from High School. . .
	So it's a submarine and not a sailboat - it's still a great story!

The above three books are the first of their respective series by former UCLA Sailing Club Member James L. Nelson.

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Non-Fiction
The true story that inspired Moby Dick.	The true story of the final, fatal voyage of the school ship brigantine Albatross.	The true story of the Mutiny on the Bounty. Bligh wasn't such a bad guy after all. . .
One of the most amazing survival stories in history - the is the story of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated antarctic expedition, their survival for nearly a year on the ice and a near-miraculous boat voyage through the South Atlantic's heaviest seas to the nearest outpost of civilization. And you thought it was rough getting wet in your sailing class. . .	"The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time." During the great ages of exploration sailors were literally lost at sea the moment they lost sight of land, all because they lacked a reliable method of determining longitude at sea. Here is the story of that solution.	In April 1895, a New England sea captain set out to be the first man to sail alone around the world in his 34-foot sloop "Spray." This is Slocum’s own account of his voyage.
The true story of a young Harvard student who, in 1834, signed on board the brig Pilgrim as a common seaman for the voyage to California. Heard of Dana Point?		The recreation of the events leading to and during "The Storm of the Century" and the loss of the fishing vessel "Andrea Gail." A gripping read that just may make you think twice about ordering swordfish. . .
	<br> Written by former UCLA Sailing Club member James L. Nelson
Survival

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LASER
Go from the basics of Laser sailing through performance on the race course. Probably the most comprehensive of the Laser books.	The Comprehensive book with everything you need to know about Laser racing.
Sail Fitter, by Dr. Michael Blackburn Your body is the most forgotten component of sailing readiness. Most sailors expend lots of effort meticulously preparing their equipment but forget about their fitness. Sail fitter in any class of boat!	Three time Laser World Champion shares his techniques to go fast and win in the Laser.

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MAGAZINES
Monthly, free at yacht clubs and marine stores all over California (but they move fast. . .), excellent articles with a strong emphasis on cruising, a good place to find a crew position to really get away from it all.	Bimonthly, free at yacht clubs and marine stores all over Southern California. Local, Southern California boating news, race coverage, etc.		Monthly, available free at yacht clubs and marine stores throughout Southern California. The January issue has the calendar for the entire year’s race schedule for all of Southern California.
		A free, online newsletter with the latest in sailing news.

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Movies (about sailing, with sailing in them, or otherwise loosely related. . .)
			Not a story about a shark — this is a classic tale of three guys fishing. Gives you new motivation for learning how to tie that bowline fast. . .

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