U.S. Sailing

In recent years, I've been proud to be asked to write two books for the governing body of yachting in the United States, US Sailing. This led on from an American requirement to develop a set of national standards for cruising sailors similar to, but not the same as, the well-established British RYA scheme. Working with US Sailing on this project in New York and San Francisco, both on the water and in the committee room, I learned a lot about teaching sailing and gained a rare insight into the similarities and differences between our nations. 

The books are Coastal Navigation and Coastal and Offshore Passagemaking. Both were initially designed as companions for the newly structured system of courses, but were met with such general enthusiasm that they can also be bought as stand-alone titles. Coastal Navigation was a challenge, designing a learning system around what to me was a foreign set of plotting conventions. It soon became apparent that what works for the Brits works pretty well for Americans as well, and vice versa. We might label our lines differently, but our hearts beat as one. 

The team that developed 'Conav' became known as the 'US Sailing Academy'. Two years after its publication, we came together again for Passagemaking. This is a thoroughly modern book, taking in all aspects of offshore and ocean sailing, including communications, long-range rescue and up-to-the-minute navigation systems.

Both books are published by US Sailing at $24.95. Hit the link, then click on 'Sailing education ' when you get to the 'Virtual USA'.