Hand, Reef and Steer 2nd edition

In Hand, Reef & Steer - winner of the Best Book of the Sea Award - Tom explains the different sailing characteristics of classic craft and shares his grasp of the special skills required to handle them. He describes how to handle heavy loads using tackles rather than winches and reveals the mysteries of making the boat work for you rather than fighting with her gear. He shares step by step advice on setting up the rig; sail handling skills (hoisting, setting and reefing) heavy and light air sailing; manouevring a long-keel boat; losing way, scandalizing and steering with sails, topsails, watersails, single-luff spinnakers and fisherman staysails; and much, much more. Hand, Reef & Steer, with its wonderful watercolour drawings and atmospheric photos, will delight all who love the unique character and grace of classic craft. 'Superb' Cruising 'A delightful book' WoodenBoat

Tom Cunliffe first took charge of an engineless 20ft gaff sloop in 1961 when he was 14 years old. Since then he has sailed and skippered boats of all types from traditional craft both large and small to competitive modern racing yachts. He has voyaged in his own gaffers from the UK all over the world, from the Caribbean to Russia and from Brazil to the Arctic. The author of 30 books, Cunliffe is a columnist with Yachting Monthly and a Yachtmaster Examiner. He was the presenter of The Boats That Built Britain (BBC Four/Two) and for many years has owned the powerful 20-ton gaff cutter Westernman, which he sails with his family.