BOOK REVIEW

Distributed by Sheridan House, Inc.
145 Palisade Street
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

ISBN 0-7136-3594-0

[This book is available for purchase at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble]

Table of Contents

1. ON THE MAIN
   Mainsail on the Wind (Pointers for pointing)
   Shaping Up the Main (Elements of draft and twist)
   The Mainsail Leech (Key to shape and power)
   How to Trim a Cat (Tips on the full-batten main)
   

2. GENOAS & JIBS
   Halyard Hoist and Sheet Lead (The basics of genoa set)
   Adjusting a Genoa (More basics of headsail trim)
   Genoa Overlap (Getting the most from LP)
   Jib Adjustment (Clew position on small boats)
   Jib Sheeting Angles (Considerations of the fairlead)

3. THE SPINNAKER
   Fundamentals of Spinnaker Handling (Set, trim, and takedown)
   Fouls and Their Prevention (Some twists on spinnaker tangles)
   Spinnaker and Mainsail Interaction (Downwind components of air flow)

4. WIND & SAILS
   The Effects of Apparent Wind (Velocity and direction in points of sail)
   Steering and Sail Trim (Gaining a feel for "the groove")
   Sail Balance on the Wind (Coordination of main and headsail trim)
   Sail Trim When Beating (Influences of the jib on the main)
   Light Air Adjustments (The delicate art of zephyr sailing)
   Close Reaching with Multiple Headsails (Aerodynamic effects of auxiliary sails)
   Maximum Thrust on a Broad Reach (Factors that contribute to speed made good)
   The Spinnaker on a Broad Reach (Angle of attack and pole trim)
   Downwind in Heavy Air (Pushing a boat in wind and waves)
   Hooking and Twisting (Leech control in various winds)

5. WHEREWITHALL
   Basic Equipment for Mainsail Trim (The gear that shapes the sail)
   Rudiments of Luff Tension (Some considerations of draft control)
   The Boom Vang (Preventing mainsail twist)
   The Traveller and Backstay (Mainsail flatness and optimum speed)
   The Jib Cunningham (Correct installation and varieties of use)
   Upgrading the Power System (Simple, low-cost ways to more efficiency)

6. CHANGING SAIL
   When to Shorten Down (Calculating sail-carrying capability)
   Wind Strength and Sail Area (How to determine optimum combinations)
   The Virtue of "Jiffy" Reefing (A fast system for shortening the main)
   Which Headsail When? (Systematized sail changing)
   On-the-Wind Headsail Changes (The techniques of fast handling)
   Spinnaker Changing on Big Boats (Procedures used on Windward Passage)
   Spinnaker Takedowns in High Winds (Rigging and handling for smooth dousing)
   Watch Out for Heavy Weather (Mainsail and spinnaker trim in a breeze)

7. THE SAIL LOCKER
   Optimize Your Sail Plan (Pointers on applying the IOR rule)
   Sail Plans and Performance (Aspect ratios and efficiency)
   Heavy Weather Genoas (Design considerations of #2 and #3)
   The Star-Cut (A spinnaker for the racing wardrobe)
   The Close-Reaching Spinnaker (Construction and selection of the star-cut)
   Filling In the Foretriangle (The case for multiple headsails)
   The Double Head Rig (Jib topsail and genoa staysail)
   Roller Furling Headsails (The answer to simplified sailing)
   Triple Roller Headsails (A cruising rig with strings attached)
   Care and Maintenance of Synthetic Sails (A regimen for hale and hearty Dacron)

8. THEORY
   Is High Aspect Ratio Efficient? (A cruising man casts his doubts)
   Some Basics of Sail Dynamics (Forces applied to a mainsail)
   Interaction of Sails on the Wind (Extreme sail plans and their performance)
   How Sails Really Work (Beginning to question old principles)
   Boundary Flow and the Headsail (Continuing to question old principles)
   How a Sail Gives Lift (Additional questions about old principles)
   Another Look at Slot Effect (Yet further questioning of old principles)
   More on the Slot Effect (Final questions about old principles)

Text on the Back Cover

The Best of SAIL Trim is an anthology of authoritative articles from one of the world's major sailing magazines.  Containing a wealth of invaluable advice, tips and opinions from leading yachtsmen, sail designers and manufacturers, it represents current ideas and practice for cruising and racing sailors alike from dinghies to ocean racers.

By means of this anthology, information which the experts take for granted will assist the ordinary sailor to keep abreast of the times.

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"Much thought-provoking material.   Recommended." -- Practical Boat Owner

"Covers just about everything." --Sea Spray (NZ)

"Invaluable and at times fascinating reading." --Yachting Monthly

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© 1999 by Mark T. Melchior  --   All Rights Reserved

Revised:  20 Dec 2007 16:28:42 -0500

"In a powerboat, you get there in a hurry . . .
in a sailboat, you are already there."