A comprehensive guide to the exhilarating sport of sailing, this illustrated volume originated in a class taught by author Charles D. White at his local yacht club in the 1940s. Suitable for sailors of all ages, the three-part approach starts with the basics, including terminology, ropes and knots, and bending, hoisting, and trimming the sails. Completion of Part I helps readers qualify as an ordinary seaman.
Part II advances to the principles of sailing and their development by addressing the actual handling of a boat. The work outlined in this section enables the student to be a full-fledged sailor, capable of commanding a vessel under ordinary circumstances or standing in for the skipper. Part III introduces the fundamentals of racing, navigation, and sailing etiquette, completing the reader's education with the rank of mate. A helpful Glossary is included.

Charles D. White was an architect by trade and an avid sailor who taught a series of sailing classes at his local yacht club.