The Sailing Handbook

It should be interesting, inspiring and rewarding to learn sailing. That is why this book exists.


The Sailing Handbook… is a concise, pedagogical and practical guide into the world of sailing. Pictures, illustrations, examples and interactive functions are used to inspire and engage. This makes The Sailing Handbook so much more than just a digital version of a printed book. The built in functionality (for example study cards, highlighting, notes, bookmarks and search) makes it even better.


The disposition of the book… has been developed, used and tested by sailing instructors and students during several years, and now it has been further refined in this book. The printed book is now in its 3rd edition and the Gothenburg Royal Sailing Club has used it since 2008.


This is what you will learn about in The Sailing Handbook:

Part 1 – Sailing in Theory

The Wind, The Water, The Boat, Basic Sailing Terms, Roles Onboard


Part 2 – Practical Sailing

Preparing, Hoisting, Reefing, Go Sailing, Trim, Downwind Sailing


Appendix – Knots


If you are new to sailing… and looking for a pedagogical and practical guide into the world of sailing – look no further. The book begins with creating a fundamental understanding of the wind and water and how they affect sailing. From there the focus shifts to the most important aspects of the boat, the sails and some central sailing terms. After this theoretical approach it is time to look at sailing from a more practical point of view as we prepare and hoist the sails, manoeuvre the boat at sea, trim the sails and sail downwind with a spinnaker or a gennaker. Naturally, you will also learn to tie the most crucial knots.


If you have spent some time on a sailing boat… and feel like you want to learn more about sailing with a spinnaker or a gennaker, or take your trimming abilities to the next level in order to get the proper draft with the right twist – this book is for you. 


The Sailing Handbook contains:

• 9 chapters totalling 67 pages

• 50 illustrations

• 36 photos

• 3 sail trim tables

• Index with 131 words (many of them illustrated)