|
All the books below have been
recommended by local racers |
 |
The Complete Book of Laser Sailing by Dick Tillman
A
soup-to-nuts book on Laser Sailing from a master. -- Sherry
The
Complete Book of Laser Sailing is the most comprehensive book ever published
about successfully sailing and racing this popular and challenging
single-handed racing boat. This completely revised and expanded edition of
Laser Sailing for the 90s tells you what you need to know about the boat
itself and gives you the latest thinking on how to set it up and sail it.
|
|
Beginning Racing Books
|
 |
Around the Bouys: A Manual of Sailboat Racing Tactics and Strategy
This
one is a good starter book for someone just starting racing--covers the
basics of all aspects of racing. Written by Mike Huck, Jr. (a former local
racer) and occasionally mentions racing conditions in the Indian River. --
Sherry
What the
official blurb says: “Around the Buoys is a guide for beginning and
intermediate racers who are mired in the bottom or middle of the fleet. The
first start-to-finish book for small-boat racers in 10 years, it dissects
all the elements, then puts them together to show how they interrelate.
With the help of numerous diagrams, readers will also learn to recognize
when they are threatened on the race course and when they must move to
realize a potential advantage.” |
|
Advanced Racing Books
|
 |
Championship Tactics
This
book is written from the point of view of the tactician, and is packed with
tactical strategies and advice. One you’ll want to read and re-read a
number of times to get the full benefit (as you learn). Expensive book, but
well worth it. It is the #1 book in my library. --Sherry
What the
official blurb says: “Championship Tactics gives expert advice in a
collection of stories from the greatest sailing races of recent decades, and
includes profusely diagrammed professional secrets that even the
Wednesday-night club racer can use. All boat racers will benefit from this
professional collection of tips!” |
|
|
Sail Like a Champion
This book is written from the point of view of a racing boat skipper.
Covers everything from boat construction, sail construction, boat setup, and
racing tactics. Definitely not just about America’s Cup racing. Also has a
lot of anecdotal information about Dennis Connor, how he started sailing,
and what makes him tick. Well worth reading for both sets of information.
--Sherry
From
Library Journal: After racing boats for 30 years (as this reviewer has),
one feels that there is little new to be learned. However, as sailor Connor
says himself, he learned something by writing this book. While Connor uses
many personal illustrative examples, he does not seem intent on glorifying
himself, and indeed his recommendations are often valuable. He covers all
aspects of sailboat racing (e.g., sails, wind conditions, rig tuning), and
concludes with a chapter on competing in the race itself. Many good
diagrams and drawings help interpret the written material.--Robert E.
Greenfield |
 |
Sailing Smart
Buddy
Melges is more of a one-design / small boat racer than Dennis Connor and
Gary Jobson, and so this book has more information aimed at the smaller boat
sailor. Good supplement to the other two (and cheaper). -- Sherry
"When
the best sailor in the world, Buddy Melges, reveals his secrets of success
through a gifted writer, Charles Mason, one might expect the resulting book
to be something special. Sailing Smart is that and more! Every sailor can
learn from this book -- especially the good sailor who aspires to become
very good." -- Bob Bavier, Yachting |
|
