Sailing: A Woman's Guide

Doris Colgate is president and CEO of the Offshore Sailing School and founder of the National Women’s Sailing Association. The Offshore Sailing School operates from four Florida locations (Captiva Island; Ft. Myers Beach; St. Petersburg; and the Florida Keys) and from Chelsea Piers, New York City; Jersey City, NJ; St. Michaels, MD; and the British Virgin Islands. In 2003, US SAILING awarded the Colgates the Timothea Larr Trophy in recognition of their outstanding leadership and excellence in sailing education.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1: Women and SailingA great fit for womenWhy are women drawn to sailing?Women who sailChapter 2: How to Get StartedChoose a sailing schoolWhat to expect on your first dayNormal apprehensionStep aboardHow does it feel?Chapter 3: Getting Comfortable with SailingSailor talkHow a sailboat is measuredWhat makes a sailboat stable?How sails are held up and controlledHow to talk about sailsBasic sailboat movesTaking a sailboat through its pacesChapter 4: How to Sail Away and Return with EaseRig and hoist the sailsGetting underwaySailing at lastHomeward boundChapter 5: Using the WindIdentifying wind directionSetting your sails upwind and downwindMaking the boat react to youPowering down for comfort and controlWhen you go agroundCrew-overboard recoveryChapter 6: Preparing Yourself and the BoatClothing for comfortable sailingDiet and sailingLifesaving equipmentCommunication with other boats and with shoreElectrical hazardsWhen a shroud or stay breaksKnots and line handlingChapter 7: Smart SailingWhy sail shape is importantThe shape of speedWeather and windWind shifts and how to use themUse of crew weight and placementChapter 8: Navigation Rules and TechniquesKnow the rulesThe basic steps of navigationTides and currentsChapter 9: Tips for Sailing with EasePractice, practice, practiceExercises for sailingPersonal mattersKeep on sailingChapter 10: ResourcesIndex