Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

Board » General Discussion » Sailing Books

Posted by
AGage


Users avatar

Posts
411
Registered at
2008-12-27 10:31:57
2012-01-26 08:31:00 - Sailing Books
I thought it would be good to start a list of books people have found helpful - for any kind of yacht racing.
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Posted by
AGage


Users avatar

Posts
411
Registered at
2008-12-27 10:31:57
2012-01-26 08:40:56 - Re: Sailing Books
IMHO an absolute must on any sailors bookshelf is 'High Performance Sailing' by Frank Bethwaite. He has also now published his 2nd book "Higher Performance Sailing" with some chapters by his son Julian.

Some info on Frank and co:
Frank and his family have include three Olympic competitors, four World Championships, as well as several Grand Masters (over age 60) World Championships by Frank himself. Frank has been a coach on the Australian Olympic Team since 1972 and also pursued pastimes with model gliders (twice open world endurance record holder) and full size sailplanes.
and
Frank Bethwaite and his son Julian are probably best known for their role in developing the Australian 18' skiffs and the 49er.
However, Mr. Bethwaite's background as a meteorologist, engineer, and pilot gives him a unique perspective in analysing the sailor's wind and how to maximize performance. His studies of hull drag, sail drag, and sail drive give the serious racing sailor valuable new information on how to maximize performance in a variety of conditions.

This book focuses on high-performance sailcraft, but the lessons are applicable to almost any racing boat.

Mr. Bethwaite provides many charts, graphs, and illustrations to support his observations on maximizing performance. Although this is a technical book, it is written for the layman.

Whats in the books:
High Performance Sailing
==========================
Part One Wind
-------------------------------
The Racing Helmsman's Wind 1
The Gradient Wind 5
The Two Surface Winds 10
Light Airs 20
The Breeze Over A Cool Surface 32
Friction And The Wind/Wave Boundaries 41
Heat And Thermal Patterns 52
Winds Near Clouds 64
Winds Near Shores 73
Wind Appraisal And The Stability Index 92
Race Preparation [Ie Predicting Wind For The Race] 102
Sailing The Wind Patterns 119

Part Two Water
-------------------------------
Waves 147
Depth And The Warm Surface Layer 154
Currents And Tidal Stream 158

Part Three The Boat
-------------------------------
The Quest For Speed 164
Sails 188
Rigs 220
Foils 232
Hulls 247

Part 4 Handling
-------------------------------
Scope 277
Handling To Windward 279
Kinetics 320
Sailing Crosswind 333
Sailing Downwind 362

Index 409



Higher Performance Sailing
==========================
Part 1 Perspective,
-------------------------------
The Origins Of High Performance 7
The State Of The Extreme Arts 41

Part Two Wind
-------------------------------
Review Of Wind Dynamics 62
The Spectrum Of The Wind 98
The Quick Gust Peaks 101
Surges And Fades 108

Part Three The Boat
-------------------------------
The Drive To Sail Faster 121
Hulls - The Material Revolution 129
Hulls - The Design Response 134
Hulls That Don't Baulk 146
More Power - Trapezes And Wings 163
Handicaps. Performance Equalisation And Turns Per Mile 169
Sail Forces In Steady Airflows 176

Part 4 Performance Advances 1991 - 2008
-------------------------------
Evolution Of The B-18 Mark 201
Design Refinement For Long Course Speed 218 (by Julian)
Design Refinement For Short Course Manoeuverability 239
The 49er 243
Transition Years 257
The 29er 261
The Critical Ratios 269

Part 5 The Automatic Rig
-------------------------------
The Evolution Of Manual Adjustment 281
The Automatic Rig 291

Part 6 The Sailing Simulator
-------------------------------
The Evolution Of The Sailing Simulator 301
A New Way Of Thinking 306
The Simulator Printout 329

Part 7 Handling
-------------------------------
Fast Handling Technique 333
Handling An Apparent Wind Skiff 374
Sailing The Foil Moth (By Rohan Veal) 399

Part 8 Racing At A Higher Level
-------------------------------
Racing With Speed: 'Connecting The Dots' 407

Index 428

==========================
1st book has been on my shelf for 8 years and I must have read it 10 times virtually cover to cover, getting many new things out of it each time (it is also a great reference to take to the boat park with you!)
2nd is on its way in the mail (and I can't wait!)

--- Last Edited by Aaron Gage at 2012-01-26 08:42:52 ---
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__
Posted by
A2


Users avatar

Posts
347
Registered at
2009-10-26 00:39:42
2012-01-26 16:28:23 - Re: Sailing Books


--- Last Edited by A2R at 2012-02-17 17:38:48 ---
None so blind
Posted by
rumskib


Users avatar

Posts
5
Registered at
2010-07-15 19:27:38
2012-02-12 20:40:25 - Re: Sailing Books
I recommend the book "Championship Tactics - How anyone can sail faster, smarter, and win races" written by Gary Jobson and Tom Whidden with Adam Loory-
ISBN 0-321-04278-7
St Martin's Press, New York, 1990

It is written in a narrative style that I found easy to follow (much easier than Bethwaite's book).
It also has a pew pages on polars, VMG, and VMC that should get anyone started who is unfamiliar with those concepts.

Fritz
Posted by
Arthur


Users avatar

Posts
32
Registered at
2008-12-23 14:43:47
2012-02-13 18:51:00 - Re: Sailing Books
What really helped me in understanding the behaviour of our source of energy is "Wind Strategy" by David Houghton/Fiona Campbell.

This book claims (and proves) to "achieve an immediate advantage over competitors who rely on local weather lore and undigested statistics".

Fernhurst, ISBN 1 904475 12 4

After having read this book, the meaning of "Fair winds" is all clear :-)

Cheers, Arthur
If you're still in control, you're not going fast enough.
Posted by
AGage


Users avatar

Posts
411
Registered at
2008-12-27 10:31:57
2012-03-03 17:25:43 - Re: Sailing Books
Yes that is an excellent book Arthur, and some of his methods are repeated in the Wind sections of Bethwaite's book. (Quadrant method for determining likelihood of a sea breeze developing most notably)
I help develop the client interface for the best online ocean racing sim there is... __/)/)_/)__

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Koshiki PYOC Sprint 2025


For the first time since 2017 we return to the islands and shima’s offshore Nagasaki, Japan. This time our crafts of choice are X-35’s. Just 23nm in a straight line but choose your course wisely.
Race 1954
INFO by brainaid.de
X-35 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SPQ3 - SPRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Sep 20th 15:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Silverrudder 2025


Ahoy, SOLers! Get ready for the epic Silver Rudder – Challenge of the Sea! This 125nm single-handed race around Denmark’s island of Funen is back—shallow waters, narrow straits, and shifting winds await. This year, we trade up to our single-handed X-99s—can you master their power where precision counts most? It’s the world’s largest solo regatta, and your virtual helm is calling! Chart your course, trust your instincts, and race for glory in this ultimate test of seamanship!

It is imperative that you read AND understand these special Starting Conditions for SILVERRUDDER 2025:
Starting Conditions!!
Race #1948
INFO by brainaid.de
X-99 Single-handed PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Sep 19th 09:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Rome to Tripoli 2025


The next race in the ARCH series will take us almost straight from Rome to Tripoli. But don't expect this 550nm race to be an easy one. The Mediterranean always offers some surprises. So let's prepare your Lagoon 55 with due care and... Fair Winds.
Race #1943
INFO from brainaid.de
Lagoon 55 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
ARQ3 - ARCH - SUPSOL – SYC
RACE CLOSE: Wednesday,
September 24 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Sep 15th 17:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Carib Rum Run 2025

Welcome to the Caribbean and Sailonline’s legendary Carib Rum Run! This year we trade tall ships for pure speed as we race our sleek Santa Cruz 70s on a 1759nm slalom through the rum islands. Yer mission: plunder barrels from the region’s finest distilleries and deliver ‘em to the rum-thirsty sands of Cancun, Mexico. Finish on or before International Talk Like a Pirate Day, 19 September, to etch yer name in legend! Join SYC before race end and ye scallywags can disguise yer boat with a pirate name for this race only! Hoist the sails, sharpen yer cutlasses—the rum run awaits!
Race #1944
INFO by brainaid.de
Santa Cruz 70 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
Race starts: Sep 15th 00:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Roslagen TIMED Sea Race

Welcome to quite possibly the most challenging TIMED race of the year. This month finds us in Sweden with lots of islands and narrow passages when we sail our Seacart 30 trimaran over the 86nm from Lidingö outside Stockholm to the beautiful coastal village of Öregrund. Consider yourself a winner if you complete the course nonstop! This is a TIMEDrace so you may RE-REGISTER HEREto try again after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #1945
INFO by brainaid.de
Seacart 30 Particulars
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ3 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
20 September at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Sep 07th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Great Nicobar to Marion Island 2025

The Adventure Continues – Leg #6 of the RWW Series.
We’re setting sail on the next stage of the RWW Series: a 4,400-nautical-mile passage from Great Nicobar to Marion Island. This demanding leg will test endurance, strategy, and seamanship at the highest level. As part of the 2025 Ocean Championship, this marks the ninth legendary challenge in the series — and one of the most exhilarating yet. The race will be contested aboard the Archer 78’ ketch, a vessel built to push sailors to their limits across the vast Indian Ocean.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1942
INFO by brainaid.de
Archer 78 PARTICULARS    
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230    
Ranking: OCQ3 - RWW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Thursday,
September 25 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Sep 01st 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client