Sailing: A Woman's Guide

by Doris Colgate

Overview

"Doris Colgate knows what women want. Well-known as a sailing role model and a confident yet gentle teacher, she writes with clarity on even the most complex sailing concepts, as well as answering often-asked questions on the safety, comfort, and social sides of sailing. Sailing: A Woman's Guide pulls it all together for the beginning sailor. Finally, an excellent book for women that both teaches and motivates. Bravo, Doris. You've opened up the sport."—Bernadette Peters, editorial director, Cruising World

"It took a person with her fingers on the pulse of women aspiring to sail to write this book, and that person is clearly Doris Colgate. Sailing: A Woman's Guide is as much a source book as empowerment to women the world over desiring to become sailors."—Micca Leffingwell Hutchins, editor of SailNet

"An excellent introduction to the sport of sailing. It will undoubtedly encourage many women to try this challenging, noncontact activity while enjoying the great outdoors."—Betsy Alison, Four-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year

"This new series is designed to teach outdoor skills to women in the way they learn. . . . Women of all ages describe how they overcame obstacles, what they enjoyed most, or just how they felt about undertaking a new activity . . . extremely well done and appealing."—Library Journal (starred review)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780070067202
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	01/01/1999
Series:	Ragged Mountain Press Woman's Guide Series
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.41(d)

About the Author

Doris Colgage has been a sailor for over 30 years. She is president of Offshore Sailing School and of the National Women's Sailing Association. Besides thousands of miles of worldwide bluewater cruising experience, she has sailed in many international races, including the Bermuda Race, Antigua Race Weeks, Cowes Weeks, and the Fastnet Race. She also produced the video Take the Helm: Women and the Sailing Lifestyle.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: Women and Sailing

A great fit for women

Why are women drawn to sailing?

Women who sail

Chapter 2: How to Get Started

Choose a sailing school

What to expect on your first day

Normal apprehension

Step aboard

How does it feel?

Chapter 3: Getting Comfortable with Sailing

Sailor talk

How a sailboat is measured

What makes a sailboat stable?

How sails are held up and controlled

How to talk about sails

Basic sailboat moves

Taking a sailboat through its paces

Chapter 4: How to Sail Away and Return with Ease

Rig and hoist the sails

Getting underway

Sailing at last

Homeward bound

Chapter 5: Using the Wind

Identifying wind direction

Setting your sails upwind and downwind

Making the boat react to you

Powering down for comfort and control

When you go aground

Crew-overboard recovery

Chapter 6: Preparing Yourself and the Boat

Clothing for comfortable sailing

Diet and sailing

Lifesaving equipment

Communication with other boats and with shore

Electrical hazards

When a shroud or stay breaks

Knots and line handling

Chapter 7: Smart Sailing

Why sail shape is important

The shape of speed

Weather and wind

Wind shifts and how to use them

Use of crew weight and placement

Chapter 8: Navigation Rules and Techniques

Know the rules

The basic steps of navigation

Tides and currents

Chapter 9: Tips for Sailing with Ease

Practice, practice, practice

Exercises for sailing

Personal matters

Keep on sailing

Chapter 10: Resources

Index