The Art of Seamanship: Evolving Skills, Exploring Oceans, and Handling Wind, Waves, and Weather

Love this book!

The "Art of Seamanship" is a dense, treasure chest of knowledge and practical advice buttressed with on-the water stories to drive home the importance of Seamanship. More importantly, it provides a pragmatic framework for thinking about your own level of seamanship with regard to how and where you boat (big or small, dayboating, coastal cruising, racing, or offshore) - and provides the insights for raising YOUR OWN skill set - to make sure you can get off the dock, have fun, stay safe, and get back home.While the book is rich in content and is set up like a classic text-book, it flows and reads like a succession of interesting articles. The author's gift for writing, his lifelong passion for the thinking about and teaching the art of seamanship, and 30+ years of exerpience on the water in boats of all shapes and sizes make this a book that every boater should read, share, and have on their bookshelf.To provide some context for my review - I am a relatively new to sailing (past 4 years), but definitely have the bug and have jumped in with both feet reading all that I can, sailing on small boats, racing in club races, and participating in overnight cruises and races. I've read through Annapolis (repeatedly), Chapmans, browsed Bowditch (more like an Encyclopedia rather than anything I'd read cover to cover), and have taken countless courses and seminars. Ralph's book is as good or better than these - and since it is hot off the press, it contains material on topics like GPS, safety gear, and high-tech materials that are out of date in other books. It goes deep into the "technical stuff" in some areas to augment topics - but you don't need an advanced degree to read and enjoy the book. It makes you think about Seamanship in an honest and constructive way.

Certain sections of this book are dated (eg Communications). However, those topics that count (eg storm tactics) are well covered and serve as a useful reference. Thank you, Ralph Naranjo!

Basically a 6 star book, packed with valuable info, pretty much a must have.Abysmal physical book. printed on rice toilet paper, making a tabloid seem archival.would willingly pay more for a more robust tomb

I fully agree with Jimmy's review below... don't leave shore without it. This is an instant classic and a must-have, especially for anyone planning for ocean sailing or refitting a boat for passagemaking. Fun, informative, highly credible, well written, properly opinionated, broad and deep but "keeps it moving" without the usual blah blah bluff and fluff. Lots of meat on the bone here. Very good blend of giving us the practical, the engineering, the reasoning... I've been wanting "someone" with true knowledge and experience to write a NEW, thorough tome like this; for example, we all know and love Nigel Calder's Boatowner's M&E Manual but that's not been updated for 18 years. The author here is a top tech adviser at 'Practical Sailor', of which I am a subscriber and keen reader but he's concentrating here on the mix of skills, judgment, teamwork and tech that the skipper must possess.... and "here it is!"... the solid overall treatment that, with Chapman's, simply must be at hand for any sailor who wants such solid advice about the Art.

Very informative and Naranjo has a very pleasant writing style. He tells you the what and the Why and his reasoning is sound. It is very well researched so the facts and opinions are reliable. Plus lots of fun anecdotes along the way. One of the best books in my nautical library.

Whether new to sailing or a salty old dog, there is much to learn from this book. Being on the water for over 60 years, Naranjo shares his experiences of Sailing in an very enjoyable read. From the boats he has owned to those he has sailed, the Author details all you need to know to enhance your water time. From anchoring to sail trim...From racing to cruising...from boat handling to celestial navigation, this book offers insight for every sailor. You will read it cover to cover, and you will keep a copy at home and aboard. I find myself re-reading passages in the Winter and earmarking chapters I need to read in the Spring. A truly useful reference.

This written like a text book so it's the kinda that you read the chapter you're interested in. That said I've found answers to questions that weren't in Chapman or the Annapolis Book of Seamanship. Of course if you really want to understand a subject you really need a least 3 books of the subject. I have many books on sailing but this is going to be one of my go to books for answers. I'd like a little more narrative and or examples to break up the text.

Birthday present for my sailor husband. He loves it.

Decent info, hard read.

Very nice addition to my nautical library

Je demande à être remboursé pour ce livre qui n'est arrivé sur aucune de mes tablettes. J'ajoute que la gestion des appareils ne marche pas et qu'il n'y a pas d'aide en ligne.