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.

Author Biography

Tom Cunliffe first took charge of an engineless 20ft gaff sloop when he was 14 years old. Since then, he has sailed and skippered boats of all types from the UK all over the world including the Arctic, Brazil, Russia and the Caribbean.