Sail Like a Champion: Advanced Racing and Cruising Techniques

With his stirring underdog triumph in the 1987 America's Cup, Dennis Conner earned a large measure of forgiveness for having been the first man (in 1983) to lose the cup in its then 132 year history. Although he is less active these days, his name still resonates among sailors and non-sailors alike and his journey from middle class roots to the pinnacle of the rich man's game of international sailing makes fascinating reading. Whether it be hours spent wet sanding the bottom the night before a regatta, or countless repetitions of each crew movement, Dennis Conner is a detail man. His mantra goes something like this; Maybe it's true that after the first few feet at the bow, the boundary layer of water becomes detached from a boat's hull as it moves, rendering the relative smoothness of the bottom moot. But, just in case it isn't true, you can be sure his underwater surfaces will be perfect all the way to the transom. Of course, this means yours will need to be too - if you hope to compete psychologically. As you would expect from such a man, detail is what sets Sail Like a Champion above the others. Drawing on Michael Levitt's encyclopedic knowledge as well as friend and long-time tactician Tom Whidden's sailmaking expertise, Dennis Conner covers the topic of sailboats and racing from A to Z. Simply put, everything you could possibly want to know, and more, is here. Whether you are a complete beginner or an accomplished racing sailor, Sail Like a Champion is a must for your library. Art Tirrell - author of The Secret Ever Keeps - March 07 from Kunati Books.

Sailing like a champion is an excellent composed book. Each case is described using at least one of the author's real-life events and is written in a plain and uncomplicated way. But what fascinated me the most is not the theory of the sail trim (which is by all means one of the best) but the unmatched dedication of Dennis Conner and his unrivaled desire to win. Aa advice from a living legend..., Thank you DC!

Mr Connor explains everything a sailor needs to know to satisfy his/her desire to race or cruise to the best of his/her ability. He does it by also explaining the jargon that stiffles most books on the subject, making them hard to read or follow. Unless, of course, if you were born with a "silver tiller" in your hand.

I found the first chapter too egocentric: Dennis Conner explains that he is a good sailor, and that we have a lot to learn from him. The rest of the book is smooth reading and very well written. I had expected the book to be advanced, but the book seems to be very targeted at the beginner. Still, there is much useful information in the book.In my mind, the book has four main parts: Part 1: boat design and building (including sails) is basic, but written in a way that makes it enjoyable to read. It is invaluable to anyone who without prior knowledge wants to buy a good boat. Part 2: boat handling and maneuvers is mainly for the novice. If you have been racing there is probably not much new here. Still the style of writing is good, and the checklists are easy to understand and follow. Part 3: strategy, is a good part. However, if you have attended a Smart Course by North Sails (or read their book) you will not find anything new here. Part 4: rules and tactics: Nothing really exciting here. The rules are old by now, and the tactics are the ones you learned in sailing school as a kid.If you are about to enter your first boat, this is the book for you. However, if you have won a few Wednesday night club races you will probably ask for more advanced stuff than what you find in this book. A champion like Dennis Conner should be able to write a book that is much more advanced and thus more valuable than this book.