The yachting handbook - Dave Cox

There are few people who can resist the appeal of gliding over the open sea in a trim and handsome yacht, or the glamour of the great international yachting challenges. Unlike dinghy sailing, yachting offers the opportunity to cruise in comfort to exotic destinations, and advances in design and technology make today's boats safer and better appointed than ever before.;But getting started can be a complex and costly business. This handbook is aimed at the sailor who wants to move up to bigger, more advanced craft. It covers the basics - technical, legal and financial - of buying (or charting) the right vessel and fitting it out for your needs, as well as the care and maintenance of hull, rigging, engine, water and electrical systems. Chapters on navigation (both celestial and electronic) and weather and tides will offer the essentials of these complex and fascinating subjects, and chapters on planning cruises, cruising routes and races should provide inspiration for anyone who's ever dreamed of venturing beyond the harbour mouth. The book includes thorough coverage of emergency procedures.