Hand, Reef And Steer: Traditional Sailing Skills for Classic Boats

by Tom Cunliffe

Tom Cunliffe is one of the world's great champions of the traditional vessel, and has been called the guru of gaff-rigg sailors. Having worked these beautiful craft all his life, his knowledge is second to none.

In Hand, Reef & Steer-winner of the Best Book of the Sea Award- Tom explains the different sailing characteristics of classic craft and shares his grasp of special skills required to handle them. He delights in describing how to handle heavy loads using tackles rather than winches and invites the reader into the mysteries of making the boat work for you rather than fighting with her gear. Specifically, he shares step-by-step advice setting up the rig, sail handling skills, heavy and light air sailing, maneuvering a long-keel boat, and steering with sails. Hand, Reef & Steer with its wonderful watercolor drawings and atmospheric photos will delight all who love the unique character and grace of classic craft.

178 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Tom Cunliffe (born 1947) is a British yachting journalist, author and broadcaster.

Cunliffe has been a regular contributor to Yachting Monthly, Yachting World, Sail magazine, Classic Boat and 'Sailing Today' for many years.

A professional writer since 1986, Cunliffe has won the Best Book of the Sea award twice, for Topsail and Battleaxe and Hand, Reef and Steer.[4] He is author of the important Shell Channel Pilot for the English Channel.

In 2010 he presented the award-winning six-part BBC documentary series, The Boats that Built Britain. He also presented the popular 'Boat Yard' series for Discovery TV. He now has a big following on his Youtube channel, 'Yachts and Yarns'.

Reviews

[Douglas Bridger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really useful book which I will refer back to when I am working on my gaff rigged dinghy. Also a great help talking about the characteristics of heavier displacement boats and how they handle. Loved it. And besides it’s great to read a book by someone who recognises that gaffers are just so much prettier than other rigs.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you own a gaff rigged vessel and need some advice this book is good news. I'm in exactly this situation and intend to keep it on board. There are chapters on the sails, rig, heavy weather, light weather etc - basically everything you might need, all with a lean to how a gaff rigged vessel will beahve in each situation.
Cunliffe obviously has a wealth of sailing experience and also some skills as a writer. The prose is easy enough to read, with the addition of pictures to make things easier to understand when descriptions get a bit involved.
Its worth reading the book from end to end. The format tempts you to dip into sections, but in my experience this doesn't work so well as some chapters are cross referred to and terminology introduced and explained in earlier chapters and not the later ones.
I bought John Leathers Gaff Rig book as well, and that has stayed on the shelf. Get this one only if you need practical advice. Leather's book has 60% gaff rig history. Not so practically useful as Cunliffe's.

[Peter Feltham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I would have completed this book before I got aboard the 12 ton, gaff-rigged sailboat.
Well-written, with some English attitude but he expects a level of understanding that I did not quite have. Experience is the best teacher.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as ever