Invitation to Sailing

This has to be one of the better books that I have read written for someone new to the sport, covering the basics of both sailing and seamanship all the way to starting in racing to intermediate helmsmanship. The opening words of the dedication "...to Junior Sailors everywhere..." basically says it all.Brown's objective was clearly to provide a training manual for Junior Sailors and even included a section on how to develop instructors. If you already know how to sail the first half of this book is a good refresher. The later sections are an excellent primer for the sailor who wants to start getting involved in racing. The chapter ending tests are a little tedious if you already know how to sail.Though this book doesn't cover the material at the level of say Richard Creagh-Osborne's "This Is Racing" it does cover most of the same information in a much more digestible manner. Osborne's book is a masterpiece all in and of its own but he is writing for a more advanced sailor then Brown is addressing with "Invitation To Sailing". Brown's diagrams are much easier to understand on a first reading. He covers the topics at hand selectively whereas Osborne's diagrams are extensive covering too much and jam packed with many possibilities.Reading the two in conjunction with each other will provide an excellent foundation in both the aspects of seamanship that are missed in most other books and racing from beginning to intermediate and advanced levels.

This is a must read for anyone wanting to learn how to sail I read this 40 years ago. With no experience I went for a check out sail on a 23' ODay.. I passed and was able to bareboat charter. This book is the only education I have . I bare boated a 42' out of San Diego based on this book.

Great condition!

Good beginning book that is not too pedantic. I really hate books that attempt to explain too much and fail in every regard. I like it.

Well organized and written in my view. The end-of-chapter quizes are helpful and re-enforce the learning process.I would recommend this to a person wanting to start sailing - part of a beginner's library. (I still consider myself a beginner-sailor after 9 years of sailing)

I read this book when I started sailing in 1978, and is the best book I read to get out on the water with confidence...5 stars for sure

I have an extensive library of sailing books and this book is the one that I keep a copy of to give to people who would like to learn to sail. It is a little out dated in some areas, but it clearly explains sailing in relation to the wind, boat, and sails.

If you really want to learn how to sail, this is the book to read. He walks you through the entire drill and after you've read it, you can crew pretty much for anyone and you'll know what you're doing.