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The Why Book of Sailing: The Curious Sailor's Guide to the Science of Sailing and Seamanship
Boats are affected by wind, tide, current, gravity and many other natural phenomena, and exist in a world of dynamic and constant change. The author looks at the sailboat through the eyes of a popular scientist and explains the scientific reasons why the boat behaves as it does. This book will help all sailors be more in tune with their boats and the water around them.
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 12, 2008
This book is a wonderful read, answering a wide range of common questions that are somehow related to sailing, and often relevant to much more than sailing. Written in a friendly and frequently humorous tone, the author packs a lot of information into a relatively short book while keeping the curious reader eagerly turning pages. This is a book that will stay on my sailboat, both as a handy reference and as something for curious guests.
The book is divided into 9 chapters and covers a lot of topics. It starts with a discussion on displacement and why boats float, then offers an understanding of vectors so you can figure out where winds and currents will take you. It examines anchoring, pulleys, and levers, also clearly explaining why as a sailboat heels it's less and less likely to actually tip over. It then moves into navigation, comparing modern navigation tools with methods from the past, discussing the importance of both. From there, the book examines electronics, from simple understanding to troubleshooting. It then discusses waves, examining what causes them, how they "move", and why they always seem to head more or less straight into shore as they approach land. Next comes optical illusions, polarization, and all the many related curiosities. Finally, he discusses the cruising life itself and the importance of conservation.
Some examples of questions that are answered in this book: Why do boats float? How do wind and sails actually work together to move a boat? What is happening when I "fly my tell tails"? How do levers and pulleys work? How do I plot an accurate course? How did people navigate before modern electronics? How can I avoid getting hit by lightening on a boat in the middle of the ocean? How do I troubleshoot an electrical problem? How do batteries work? What causes waves? What prevents a boat from going faster than its "hull speed"? What is a rainbow? How do polarizing sunglasses work, and are they worth their price? How can I conserve water and electricity?
My only complaints with the book have to do with the editing. In particular, simple grammatical and spelling errors are mixed throughout the text, as well as the occasional repeated word word (sic). There are also some photographs of charts with awful contrast which are difficult to see. Fortunately these complaints are minor and easily ignored, and do not in any way detract from the usefulness of the book.
I will be reading this one again, and frequently sharing it with others.
The book is divided into 9 chapters and covers a lot of topics. It starts with a discussion on displacement and why boats float, then offers an understanding of vectors so you can figure out where winds and currents will take you. It examines anchoring, pulleys, and levers, also clearly explaining why as a sailboat heels it's less and less likely to actually tip over. It then moves into navigation, comparing modern navigation tools with methods from the past, discussing the importance of both. From there, the book examines electronics, from simple understanding to troubleshooting. It then discusses waves, examining what causes them, how they "move", and why they always seem to head more or less straight into shore as they approach land. Next comes optical illusions, polarization, and all the many related curiosities. Finally, he discusses the cruising life itself and the importance of conservation.
Some examples of questions that are answered in this book: Why do boats float? How do wind and sails actually work together to move a boat? What is happening when I "fly my tell tails"? How do levers and pulleys work? How do I plot an accurate course? How did people navigate before modern electronics? How can I avoid getting hit by lightening on a boat in the middle of the ocean? How do I troubleshoot an electrical problem? How do batteries work? What causes waves? What prevents a boat from going faster than its "hull speed"? What is a rainbow? How do polarizing sunglasses work, and are they worth their price? How can I conserve water and electricity?
My only complaints with the book have to do with the editing. In particular, simple grammatical and spelling errors are mixed throughout the text, as well as the occasional repeated word word (sic). There are also some photographs of charts with awful contrast which are difficult to see. Fortunately these complaints are minor and easily ignored, and do not in any way detract from the usefulness of the book.
I will be reading this one again, and frequently sharing it with others.
February 7, 2009
Any question that you can dream up about physics, as it relates to sailing, will be answered in this book. I am one of the most curious sailors or people that I know, and this book has been able to slake most of my curious wonderings. It is a great book to keep aboard, seeing as most questions about sailing arise while under sail. The examples are always relevant and fun, and Welty includes many excerpts from his own log which gives the book a human element that many physics books lack. Also, coming from a retired physics teacher it is very credible. I would not categorize this as a physics book but rather as a humorous look into the workings of a sailboat and its watery world.
November 16, 2008
Great idea for a book; poor execution. Layout, editing, and diagrams are all pretty unprofessional. Welty's attempts at humor fall far short. Initial topics are completely elementary. There are more interesting topics later in the book.
January 27, 2008
Un-biased review: Awesome book; lots of good physics and good humor
Biased review: Awesome book; lots of good physics and good humor
Biased review: Awesome book; lots of good physics and good humor
December 11, 2014
Dad's. It was very interesting, but I think I'll reread it when I'm older and know a little more about the words.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews