Product Description

The Complete Yachtmaster has been a bestseller since first publication and has established itself as the standard reference for Yachtmaster students as well as skippers of all levels of experience. In the fifth edition, Tom Cunliffe brings together all the essentials of modern cruising in one volume. Subjects include: analysis of a good skipper the theory and practice of sailing seamanship navigation, including plotters and PCs meteorology heavy weather and stability coping with emergencies. The Complete Yachtmaster promotes each subject as an integral part of the whole. It guides examination candidates as authoritatively and reassuringly through the RYA syllabus as a sea pilot bringing a ship to harbour. Required reading for all skippers whether on board or in the classroom. 'A gem, distilled from decades of experience' Yachting Monthly 'Cunliffe's competence and authority radiate from the pages thoroughly recommended' Little Ship Club

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #242821 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review
"'A gem, distilled from decades of experience' Yachting Monthly 'Cunliffe's competence and authority radiate from the pages... thoroughly recommended' Little Ship Club"

Boat Mart (May 2006)
'Suitable for all levels of sailor, this thorough and practical
book brings together all the essentials of modern cruising in one volume.'

Multihull Review (September/October 2006)
'The beauty of it is that in one book you have the "essential"
knowledge from which to learn and to which to refer... Tom writes with an
easy style that makes this a good book for the eager student and for the
rusty sailor intending to stretch to new horizons. Highly recommended.'

Customer Reviews

Tailored guide to RYA Yachtmaster - It worked for me.
Don't wait until you want to be a Yachtmaster, buy this book when you plan your first trip on a yacht. This is a thoroughly effective and straightforward textbook, easily read and understood by anyone who wants to become competent in a yacht. Cunliffe is one of those rare experts who can explain his subject to complete beginners without confusing or baffling them. The book starts by explaining the basic principles of sailing before leading the reader gently into greater depth (pun intended), covering all of the aspects of yachtsmanship required by the RYA. It provides a steady progressive learning experience for the yacht sailor, as well as a handy reference for those who haven't been sailing for a while. It's tailored specifically to the RYA syllabus, which doesn't include every aspect of yacht sailing, so neither does the book. In this respect it's less comprehensive than, say, Jim Morant's "The Boating Bible". It's also a lot lighter! I know from personal experience however that this is almost the only textbook you need to get through the RYA Yachtmaster exam. Along with five years and 2,500 miles of sailing, that is! What Tom Cunliffe does teach so effectively is how a yachtmaster should think. The book itself won't make you a complete yachtmaster, but it's probably the best guide out there if you want to become one.

Do you need to be over sixty to understand this ?
Although this book is regarded as one of the most popular texts for aspring skippers, it is severely let down by the way the author chooses to express himself. If clearly explained, the subject matter can be easily understood, but the author writes as if he is talking to some adoring pupils sitting in the warmth of the local pub with a few pints. Some simple concepts are rendered almost incomprehensible by the author's penchant for using euphemisms and colloquial terms from the 'good old days'. At times I felt reading this book was like having my Grandfather explain how to crank start a T-Model Ford. Rather than relying on commonly accepted terminology, the book employs old fashioned slang which some readers may come across if they are lucky, but which are not in common usage by the majority of the population. In one paragraph the anchor is described using three different terms and this reader was never quite sure if they all refered to the same thing.
The effect of this sloppy langauge is that one is constantly trying to decipher the arachaic text before the concept being explained can be understood. Compared to official RYA publications, this book leaves a lot to be desired. If you are over sixty and have lived the life of a sea dog, you will probably breeze through this book. If you are any younger, even if you have significant sailing experience, you may struggle.

The Complete Yachtmaster
An obviously witty author who offers a reasonable book for someoneone who is about to partake in a Yachtmaster course. However it is severely lacking in diagrams/visuals to aid a student or even someone with such a qualification. I feel the author/publisher assume far too much of the potential reader/purchaser of this book.