The Craft of Sail,

by Jan Adkins

Line drawings and a supporting text introduce potential seafarers to the equipment, skills, and maneuvers of sailing

64 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1973

About the author

Jan Adkins is an author, illustrator, designer, storyteller, and explainer. Most of his life he has unraveled snarls, straightened paths, and made a clearer understanding of complex and subtle matters. He has published more than 45 books, many of them non-fiction for young people. He was associate art director for National Geographic Magazine, 1980-88, researching and explaining science, medicine, technology and archaeology to its millions of readers. It was a job described by his editor-in-chief as “getting a doctorate every third month.” He taught editorial illustration at Rhode Island School of Design and at Maryland Institute College of Art. He has a regular 8 pp feature, “Getting Started In Boats,” in WoodenBoat Magazine and contributes often to several sailing magazines. He’s delighted to be a member of the iNKthink team that produces nonfictionminute.com (quick, check it out!). He’s one of the Eisterhold Associates (Kansas City, MO) designing and producing museum exhibits. A great deal of his satisfaction lies in nurturing and herding his 3 grandchildren in Gainesville, Florida, where he lives, and his 2 grandsons in Washington, DC. He walks, canoes, cycles, sails, and cooks, but his neighbors don’t know exactly what business he’s in. On Friday evenings you will often find him holding forth at an outdoor table with friends at his son-in-law’s Cypress & Grove Brewing Company, his version of Rick’s American Cafe.

Reviews

[CC · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Premier Primer*
This book is the best introduction to sailing I've ever seen. It is packed with information. Although beginners may spend hours on one page, the concepts are clearly presented and easy to follow. It is succinct. Only 64 pages! The drawings are superb. They are far superior to photos in clarity - Jan is such a fine artist that they are superior to most other drawings as well.

All sailboat owners will want to have at least one copy around for guests, and experienced sailors who respect the fundamentals will enjoy having at least one on their shelf as well. Did I mention the price? Highly recommended.
*Taken from my Amazon review