The Anatomy of Sail: The Yacht Dissected and Explained - Hardcover

Nic Compton's knowledge of the subject and skill as a writer turns a good idea into a great book. -- Nigel Irens, Yacht Designer Classic Boat's former editor delivers a seven-chapter 192-page opus on all the aspects of a boat, from types and materials to rigs and fittings, even nav instruments...Gorgeously illustrated. * Classic Boat * Will sit attractively on the fussiest coffee table, but will also provide inspiration for anyone looking for ideas while restoring a boat. * The Marine Quarterly * With its heavyweight feel, high quality production and beautiful photography this large format book evokes an immediate connection with the classic vessels, which are its main subject. Beautifully produced and packed with clear, well composed and informative photographs it reflects the author's background in boat building and as a former editor of Classic Boat magazine...his book would certainly find a place in the collection of anyone who values lovely photographs of beautiful objects, not just yachts. -- Ray Kay * Cruising Association * It's Compton's photo selection that makes his book so different from other books written on the same theme. He picked photos suitable for a photography book and composed them artfully on the page. He didn't do that just to be fancy....The other dimension of the book worth noting is the way Compton shows the breadth of the evolution of sail * Sailing (US magazine) *

An encyclopedic compendium of every element of a yacht, this book contains a wealth of information for the aficionado as well as the newcomer, taking apart the sailboat to explore every part of it in depth. Gloriously illustrated with beautiful photography and explanatory diagrams, each page is packed with fascinating and satisfying detail. Looking first at the history of yachting and boatbuilding techniques, the book arms the reader with the knowledge to understand the lineage and characteristics of the sailboat parts that are focused on in the later more detailed chapters. All the main features of contemporary vessels - ranging from keels and masts to portholes and binnacles - are then analysed, with explanations of how they came to be the size, shape and material that they are, what they have in common, why they differ, all spiced with relevant historical anecdotes. This is a wide-ranging, trailblazing and stunning treasure trove of fascinating information, which will delight and absorb anyone who has ever sailed on or gazed in wonder at a yacht.