The Symmetry of Sailing: The Physics of Sailing for Yachtsman

By Ross Garrett

Book Overview

Why must a boat make leeway in order to sail to windward? How can a helmsman prevent downwind rolling? Why is a sail able to produce a force at right angles to the wind direction? These and many other important questions are addressed by the authors in this detailed study of the motive forces of a yacht.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1574090003
• ISBN13: 9781574090000
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Sheridan House
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 9.8"

Customer Reviews

If you really want to understand

If you really want to understand sailing and what makes the boat go through the water and why this is the book. Its not a light bedtime read. You do have to think about what is being said and explained but the explanations are complete enough to appeal to an engineer (as myself) yet presented with enough discussion that a non-engineer with an interest in the details can enjoy it as well. Although the equations and formulas are given, you don't need to know sophisticated math to understand. Its not a cookbook to sail faster but if you apply the material presented here, you cannot but sail faster, better and more efficiently.

The full story

Garrett goes all out in describing the real physics behind sailing. A great book for anyone with a serious need or want to understand the intricacies behind a wonderful sport. The book is very technical, especially in the latter parts. Very well written, and much less overwhelming than Marchaj.

I love this book

If you like sailing and physics this book will make you enjoy on a fourth dimension.

good book

good book for the intermediate and expert in yacht design/construction and yachting who wants to check the knowledge.

Outshines by far any book on the topic of sailing theory.

While written some 12 years ago this book is as fresh as a daisy. Some of the topics are still breathtaking in their implications for the future of sailing such as sailing dead downwind faster than the wind.Already practical yachts have sailed straight into the wind, and it just awaits the technology to acheive this down wind trick.As well there are straight forward guides as to how to handle a yacht in the real world of racing, as well as sobering discussions on the effects of breaking seas.All in all it has made me a far more aware sailor with the knowledge to plan for exciting sailing and future fun.