Synopses & Reviews
In a competitive sailing career spanning more than four decades, Gary Jobson has won just about every significant championship. Along the way he has competed against and with the masters of modern competitive sailing--studying, adopting, and adapting their most successful tactics, habits, and techniques. From these ingredients and his own vast experience he has molded and perfected a system that will propel you to the top of the fleet.
In Championship Sailing you'll learn how to win in local, national, and international fleets, whether they are one-design or handicap, high-performance dinghies or big keelboats.
Drawing from his personal experiences in hundreds of dramatic races, Gary shows you how to prepare like a champion, impose order in chaotic situations, recover from mistakes or bad luck, and use both your failures and your successes to become a better sailor.
He guides you through the steps of organizing, training, and leading a first-rate crew; establishing a tactical team and defining their duties; and coping with the emotional highs and lows of a hotly contested race. You'll learn how to examine and analyze the racecourse, read the wind, and choose the best side of the course. And you'll master the finer points of fast starts, upwind and downwind tactics, rounding windward and leeward marks, passing, and maximizing your speed with rig tuning, sail shape, sail trim, and steering.
Complete with in-depth discussions on the best practice methods, the psychology of winning, and so much more, Championship Sailing is the absolutely indispensable guide for anyone who wants to win sailboat races at any level.
Gary Jobson has won ten national one-design sailing titles, the America's Cup, and innumerable ocean races. In 1999 he received the U.S. Sailing Association's most prestigious award, the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy. In 2003 Gary was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame. He is an editor at large for Cruising World and Sailing World and has been ESPN's sailing commentator since 1985.
"A must-read for those who aspire to win sailboat races at any level."--Tom Whidden, CEO of North Marine Group, three-time America's Cup winner
Winning a sailboat race--any sailboat race--is the final step in a process begun weeks, months, perhaps even years before. It involves strategic insight, tactical savvy, and a boat- and sail-handling virtuosity that can only come from many hours of carefully structured practice. In Gary Jobson's Championship Sailing, one of the most successful sailboat racers in history shares more than 40 years of racing and sailboat expertise at the highest levels of competition.
Introducing a proven system developed, fine-tuned, and perfected over more than four decades of sailboat racing, Gary Jobson outlines the skills, reflexes, and instincts you need to become a true champion as he imparts his secrets for:
- Organizing, training, and leading a crew
- Reading the wind and choosing the best side of the course
- Simplifying sail trim and rig tuning
- Improving boatspeed
- Tacking, jibing, and maneuvering for advantage
- Winning starts and leapfrogging boats at the finish
- Regaining lost ground
- Practicing alone, in pairs, and with a fleet
Whether you're racing in one-design or handicap fleets, in high-performance dinghies or big keelboats, Championship Sailing will propel you to the front of the fleet.
Synopsis
Gary Jobson shares his expertise for a winning performance in sailboat racing “The complete guide to racing at its highest level.”
Paul Cayard, five-time Americas Cup veteran and six-time world champion
“A must-read for those who aspire to win sailboat races at any level.”
Tom Whidden, CEO of North Marine Group, three-time Americas Cup winner
In the pages of Gary Jobsons Championship Sailing, the author shares more than 30 years of racing and sailing expertise at the highest levels of competition, covering every aspect of racing in one-design or handicap fleets from high-performance dinghies to big keelboats. Readers will learn Jobsons secrets for:
- Organizing a crew
- Reading the wind
- Simplifying sail trim and rig tuning
- Improving boat speed
- Winning starts and leapfrogging boats at the finish
- Regaining lost ground
- And much more
Synopsis
Gary Jobson shares his expertise
for a winning performance
in sailboat racing
The complete guide to racing
at its highest level.
Paul Cayard, five-time Americas Cup
veteran and six-time world champion
A must-read for those who
aspire to win sailboat races
at any level.
Tom Whidden, CEO of North Marine
Group, three-time Americas Cup winner
In the pages of Gary Jobsons Championship
Sailing, the author shares more than 30 years
of racing and sailing expertise at the highest
levels of competition, covering every aspect
of racing in one-design or handicap fleets
from high-performance dinghies to big keelboats.
Readers will learn Jobsons secrets for:
- Organizing a crew
- Reading the wind
- Simplifying sail trim and rig tuning
- Improving boat speed
- Winning starts and leapfrogging boats at
the finish
- Regaining lost ground
- And much more
Synopsis
Gary Jobson shares his expertisefor a winning performancein sailboat racing
“The complete guide to racingat its highest level.”
—Paul Cayard, five-time America’s Cupveteran and six-time world champion
“A must-read for those whoaspire to win sailboat racesat any level.”
—Tom Whidden, CEO of North MarineGroup, three-time America’s Cup winner
In the pages of Gary Jobson’s ChampionshipSailing, the author shares more than 30 yearsof racing and sailing expertise at the highestlevels of competition, covering every aspectof racing in one-design or handicap fleetsfrom high-performance dinghies to big keelboats.Readers will learn Jobson’s secrets for: Organizing a crew Reading the wind Simplifying sail trim and rig tuning Improving boat speed Winning starts and leapfrogging boats atthe finish Regaining lost ground And much more
About the Author
Gary Jobson (Annapolis, MD) is a world-class sailor, Americas Cup winner, and ESPN sailing commentator. He is also editor at large for Yachting, Cruising World, and Sailing World magazines.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1. Before the Start: A Word on Competition and Goals
Competition
Goals
Chapter 2. The Sailing Team
The Tactical Team
The Trimming Team
The Foredeck Team
Race Day Routine
Individual Crew Assignments
On Posture, Clothing, Attitude--and Looking Good
The View from the Rail
Chapter 3. The Art of Calling Tactics
Establish the Tactician's Role
Expand the Tactician's Duties
Fine-Tune Your Tactical Technique
Onboard Tools and References
The Tactician and Leadership
Control the Yelling
Overcoming Emotions When Behind
Chapter 4. Strategy at the Start
Reading the Wind
Choosing the Best Side of the Course
Fast Starts
Chapter 5. After the Start: Windward and Downwind Tactics
Windward Tactics
Downwind Tactics
The Mechanics of Mark Roundings
Passing
Light-Wind Tactics
Fast Finishes
Chapter 6. Racing at Night
Instruments to Gauge Performance
Safety
The Watch System
Chapter 7. The Race Committee, Rules, and Protests
The Race Committee
The Racing Rules
Protests
Chapter 8. Trim for Speed
Tuning and Balance
Speed Tips
Chapter 9. Steer for Speed
Assume the Position
Getting in the Groove
Chapter 10. Maneuvering for Advantage
Tacking
Jibing
Catch a Wave or a Tow
Sailing By the Lee
Shifting Gears from Boat to Boat
Speed Tips
Chapter 11. Practice Routines
Practicing Alone
Practicing in Pairs
Practicing as a Fleet
Chapter 12. Thoughts on Performance
Mentoring
Take Time to Look Around
Make It Fun
My Favorite Boats
Sailors with True Grit
Winning
Appendices
Glossary
A Racer's Calendar
Resources
Index