DSK wrote:
RogueIT wrote:

Looking for a little advise on what I could read to get a good overall
knowledge of sailing. I plan on taking a power squadron class but would
like to know more than nothing before I get there. In fact I know I
don't know anything so that is something...right?

I'd suggest a couple of things, starting at the closest public library.
Gee, do they even have those any more? Read every book on sailing...
well, that will take a long time. Pick a few with cool pictures, look at
the pictures, read the captions. That's a good start.

Here's a start you can make without leaving the computer, which appeals
to a lot of people these days:


http://www.sailingcourse.com/homepagehtml.htm

http://www.huntington.edu/education/...g/sailing.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...w_to_sail.html

If you happen to be in Boston, this is a great opportunity:
http://sailing.mit.edu/LearntoSail/

There are local community sailing programs at a lot of places around the
country, they can be somewhat hard to find though. Very much worth
looking for. And you can can often get a chance to sail by hanging
around marinas & sailing clubs, chatting with people, making friends,
and letting it be known that you'd like to crew.


I've recently been teaching using the book "Start Sailing Right", a
joint effort between the American Red Cross and US Sailing.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882502485/002-2393248-2466437?v=glance&n=283155

It's a pretty good basic introduction for the never-ever with nice
pictures and not a lot of extraneous terminology (that can come later).

Sailing is no more or less difficult than riding a bike, but you have to
*do* it in order to learn it. Finding an opportunity to actually do it
will be much more valuable than any book. I'd recommend small boats and
cold water - there is no better way to learn.

//Walt