Books For Sail

The Royal Yachting Association is the UK's national body for all forms of boating, including dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and narrowboats, and personal watercraft. It offers a wide range of training schemes, covering almost every aspect of this fascinating activity known as 'boating'.

For the purposes of both training and general information, the RYA has risen to be the largest 'how-to' marine publisher in the world. There are more than 80 titles featured on the current list with more being released in the very near future.

Of course, you don't have to be a member to buy their publications but RYA Members enjoy a 15% discount on books and many other products from the RYA Shop. Combined with the other benefits you can enjoy, it makes membership very worthwhile indeed. For more infomation or to sign up, follow the link below.

Get the most out of your boating - Join the RYA online today

 
So, now on to the books...

RYA Diesel Engine Handbook

• Author: Andrew Simpson
• Illustrations: Sarah Selman
• ISBN: 9780954730161
• Product Code: G25

Written for leisure boat owners, the RYA Diesel Engine Handbook is essential reading for anyone doing the RYA one day Diesel Engine Course.The book takes you through the basic theory of how marine diesel engines work, before moving on to the more practical aspects of maintenance and troubleshooting

The book is accompained by a free DVD·giving expert instruction and top tips from Nick Eales of Seastart. Illustrations are by the immensely talented Sarah Selman.

What the press thinks of RYA Diesel Engine Handbook:

'...wonderful little book...' Yachting Monthly

'...very useful...' Sportsboat and RIB

'...uncluttered text and detailed colour illustrations make this an invaluable reference guide...' Boat Mart

'...a complete guide for leisure boat owners...' Practical Boat Owner

RYA Electrics Handbook

• Author: Andrew Simpson
• Illustrations: by the Author
• ISBN: 9781906435240
• Product Code: G67

This book is the companion edition to the RYA Diesel Handbook and follows a similar course. First comes the theory and next the technicalities. To help sort out the complexities of electrical circuitry and make them simpler to understand, the circuits are divided into their basic functions: engine starting, charging, distribution, shore power etc.
The book covers battery charging strategies and alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power – potential electrical self-sufficiency for sailors – as well as a section on diesel generators. There's plenty of hands-on information for those who want to add to or modify their electrical systems.

And, of course, maintenance and trouble-shooting are essential inclusions.

What the press say about the RYA Electrics Handbook

A good choice ... clearly written ... ideal...Yachting monthly, January 2010

RYA Seamanship for Sea Anglers

• Author: Andrew Simpson
• Illustrations: by the Author
• ISBN: 9781905104574
• Product Code: G50

As the title declares, this book focuses on the seamanship skills you need when engaged in this popular pastime. It has little to do with catching fish but concentrates instead on those vital navigational and maritime skills that will keep you safe when you go to sea in small boats. Chapters include boat handling, ropework, collision avoidance, tides, navigation, heavy weather tactics and much, much more besides.

Easy to follow text, combined with precise illustrations will leave you feeling confident in your boating skills, allowing you time to catch bigger and better fish – and lots more of them!

What the press think of Seamanship for Sea Anglers

'...For the fishermen it will be priceless...' All at Sea

Thankfully, 'priceless' is something of an exaggeration. Details of prices and delivery can be had by going to:  BUY NOW! 

RYA Multihull Handbook for Cruisers

• Author: Andrew Simpson
• Illustrations: by the Author
• ISBN: 9781906435424
• Product Code: G92

Andrew designed his first multihull – a 24ft trimaran – back in 1968, later going on to create over 20 other designs both for cruising and racing. His enthusiasm for these exhilarating craft is evident from this book, which brings a rare insight into how to get the best performance and pleasure from your catamaran or trimaran.

Such matters as stability and heavy weather sailing are explored, as are the particular skills necessary to handle such lightweight craft in close quarters. Myths are corrected and replaced by a more rational appraisal of the facts – displacing the hysteria and setting out the pros and cons for anyone really interested in multihulls.

What the press say about Multihull Handbook for Cruisers

... Simpson confronts the big questions head-on...Yachting Monthly, October 2010

..Thoughtfully laid out [and contains] plenty of useful information...Sailing Today, November 2010

Click on this link for more on this book  :  BUY NOW!

RYA Fishing Afloat

• Author: Dick McClary
• Illustrations: Andrew Simpson
• ISBN: 9781906435028
• Product Code: G72

This terrific little book should on every cruising boat, whether pottering around the coasts or proceeding far offshore. Dick's expertise in the field is matched by his enthusiasm for his subject. His advice comes across with such clarity and humour that even those whose angling experiences have been tinged by disappointment will be encouraged to try their hand again.

And successful fishing doesn't necessarily call for a huge investment in gear. With little more than a handline and some very simple accessories – plus, of course, the tips gleaned from Fishing Afloat  – you will soon be hauling fish in over the transom and into the frying pan. Of course, it's not all simple tackle. Sea angling can have a technical side which can prove expensive to the unwary. But, even here, Dick is ready with his advice, describing many of the options and discussing their relative merits.

You simply can't go wrong with Fishing Afloat. Buy the book and start peeling the potatoes!

What the press say

...written especially for the sailing fisherman ... Caribbean Compass, December 2009

... this publication stands heads and shoulders above the competition … the illustrations in McClary’s book are clear, pertinent and frankly lift the entire publication … this slim volume really does deserve a place on your bookshelf if you have any pretensions whatever of supplementing your onboard diet with fish...
Ocean Cruising Club’s Magazine, December 2010

For details of prices and delivery, click on this link: BUY NOW!

RYA Offshore Sailing

• Author: Dick McClary
• Publisher: RYA Publications
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 176
• ISBN: 978190643549
• Product Code: G87

When it comes to offshore sailing, there’s no substitute for experience. And for those yet to sample the challenges, that often means the experience of others. In this book Dick McClary has done an excellent job addressing the various issues facing sailors who plan to quit the coast and sail far from land.

The contents include:

• Choice of boat
• Deck gear, sails and rig
• Self steering
• Accommodation
• Care and feeding of the crew
• Preparing for the tropics
• Electronics and communication
• Planning and strategy
• …and much, much more besides

Authoritative and clearly written by a seasoned ocean sailor, this immensely useful book provides lots of practical information. It is an absolute must for anyone even thinking of sailing offshore.

For more details or to buy follow this link:  BUY NOW!

RYA Sail Trim Handbook for Cruisers

• Author: Rob Gibson
• Illustrator: Andrew Simpson
• ISBN: 9781906435578
• Product Code: G99

This truly exceptional book has been a hot seller since it first came out. And hardly surprisingly. It goes without saying that sailors depend mightily on their sails. Yet it's a sad fact that many don't get anything like the best out of them. In RYA Sail Trim for Cruisers, Rob Gibson demystifies the aerodynamic principles and then goes on to explain how the various controls can be used to maximum advantage in terms of both performance and comfort. This is followed by practical examples of how your sail plan's power can be optimised for different points of sailing and varying weather conditions.

Rig tuning, spinnaker handling, heavy weather tactics and much else besides is covered with great clarity. Even very experienced sailors will find something to learn from these pages.

What the press think of Sail Trim for Cruisers:

...An easy read and well illustrated.... Sailing Today, December 2010 - Recommended read

...If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well....and that’s particularly relevant to trimming sails....Sail-World.com, November 2010, Book of the Week

Follow this link to improve your sailing skills:   BUY NOW! 

RYA Introduction to Boat Handling for Sail and Power

• Author: Rob Gibson
• Illustrations: Andrew Simpson
• ISBN: 9781905104833
• Product Code: G68

Are you tense and nervous when handling your boat in close quarters? Are you concerned about embarrassing yourself in front of your fellow sailors? This truly excellent book will restore your confidence by explaining how the natural forces – notably the stream, wind, and the boat's momentum – can trap you into getting things very wrong. Don't worry. It's not bad news. Rob then goes on to describe how, by using those same forces to your advantage, you can get it right every time.

The book starts with the basic principles but then moves on to describe how every situation should be appraised and analysed. Next, Rob takes you step-by-step through the various manoeuvres you should adopt to ensure a safe and decorous outcome.

Buy this book and deny your fellow sailors any entertainment at your expense!

What the press say about Boat Handling for Sail and Power

...The chapters on take-offs and landings are what makes this book essential reading... Practical Boat Owner, 2008

...This book is very well illustrated and provides plenty of valuable information to give confidence in boat handling afloat... Multihull Review, 2008

... an authoritative book, full of useful tips for novices and experienced sailors alike... Yachting Monthly, 2008

Please your insurers by buying this book. Just follow this link:   BUY NOW!

RYA Passage Planning

Publisher: RYA
Format: Paperback
Pages: 72
ISBN: 9781905104840

It is an obvious truth that even the shortest sea voyage should be properly planned. Although this is usually a straightforward process, it is also one that is often neglected – sometimes with dire consequences. Author Peter Chennell is the Sea Safety Manager of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) so there could not be a better guide, first to emphasise how vital passage planning is and then to explain how to go about it.

The examples in this insightful little book span voyages of various types: inshore, coastal, offshore and even ocean – each describing the various factors every skipper must consider. The very simplest plan might be a few notes on a scrap of paper whilst the most ambitious must consider global influences such as the seasons. None are particularly challenging.

As the author himself acknowledges, this is a book you will probably leave at home, since this is where most plans take shape.

RYA ICC Handbook

• Author: Rob Gibson
• Illustrations:  Andrew Simpson
• ISBN: 9781906435165
• Product Code: G81

Most European countries require that recreational boaters hold the International Certificate of Competence (commonly known as the ICC) for navigating both the coastal and inland waterways.·

This new and updated edition of the RYA ICC Handbook is written as the official RYA course book to help both sail and power boaters pass the ICC test.

It explains the ICC in great detail – what it is, why it came about, who it applies to, and the requirements for all boaters to obtain one. The International Regulations to Prevent Collisions at Sea are briefly touched on, and the content of the ICC test is explained in depth.

...If you are considering a trip to mainland Europe this book is a must... James Stevens FRIN (RYA Training Manager and Chief Examiner

Start studying for the ICC by following this link: BUY NOW! 

RYA CEVNI Handbook

• Author: Rob Gibson
• Illustrations: Andrew Simpson
• ISBN: 9781906435721
• Product Code: G106

The CEVNI (Code Européen des Voies de la Navigation Intérieure) code governs navigation on all interconnected European inland waterways, and a good knowledge of the code is vital for every user of these.

Remember that the ICC without a CEVNI endorsement does not qualify you from entering those waterways.

This important booklet can be obtained by going to: BUY NOW!