Cruising Under Sail

Very thorough look at all aspects of sailing. Heavy on gear, rigging, seamanship. I now can tell the difference between a cutter and yawl, what is a gaff rigged s/v etc.

Hiscock's classic text on long distance cruising has been the bible of long distance sailors for two or three generations now. What it lacks in the latest gadgets it makes up for with decades of experience and knowledge of the subject. The safety at sea section alone is worth the price. Chapters include ropes and rope work, masts and sails (cruising sails, not racing sails), accommodations and living on board, passages and navigation. Unless you already have a decade of long distance sailing behind you this is a valuable book.

This book still is valuable for sailors. The technical information is dated, but the prudent, workmanlike approach to the whole business of sailing around the world is timeless. The ocean hasn't changed much in 30 years.

While some of the information is a bit dated (no GPS, for instance)there is good, solid, readable stuff here, everything from sleeping bags to celestial navigation, recipes to emergency repairs. Hiscock had real hands on, been there experience, circumnavigating (with his wife Susan) several times. Far too many cruising books are of the "Oh, cut loose and have fun" type which can be more than a little dangerous. Collections of carefree cruising stories and anecdotes. Cruising Under Sail something else, serious, proven stuff that Hiscock has collected from among the most successful cruising sailors.

This book is particularly suited to the owner of a cruising yacht .The range of information within the pages is complete i.e. ; if you knew what was contained in this book you would know a lot about sailing and cruising. It covers topics such as :Hull , Rig & Rigging,Sails, Seamanship and Navigation etc. I have an origional First edition(1950),and I read it on a regular basis and I still consider it my favourite book on sailing.The plates and illustrations are beautiful.