Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012

• #40 in Best Sailing Books

7 Reviews

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Great source of information! Buy this book if you want to understand the racing rules of sailing.

Dave Perry is an expert at the racing rules and a talented teacher. There are certainly other ways to learn the rules, but none is as lighthearted or as complete.

As a part of this book you get a copy of the complete official version of the rules as well as Dave's easy to follow structure and "questions and answers" sections. I suggest that you read this book in short sessions, taking the time to visualize what is being talked about (easy to do given Brad Dellenbaugh's great illustrations.)

The reason to read other rules books is to review the rules once you've learned them with Dave Perry. And if you're like many people, when his new version comes out in four years (the rules are tweaked every Olympic year) you will order a new copy and be reminded how easy he makes it to learn the rules.

This will be my third "Dave Perry". Its a classic! Makes for great winter reading in the northern climes. Gets the rust off the brain cells (rule-wise) before you take to the water in the first regatta in the spring. Love the examples! Love the illustrations! I recommend it to every sailor who ever has expressed an interest in learning and understanding the RRS. Only downside to the book is its glued binding - it will never survive 4 years of use. My recommendation is to take it straight to Kinko's - have them cut the binding off and have it spiral-bound with plastic covers on the front and back.

The 2005-2008 edition got me through 4 years of college sailing, and I just bought this new edition to share with other, less experienced members of my keel boat crew.

Perry is great because he makes the rules simple and he makes you care about them. His in-person seminars are wonderful, and this book is nearly as good (and a whole lot cheaper).

Great to review during the off-season or use as a reference when you're drawing up a new team racing playbook. Small enough to keep in the sail bag so you'll have it handy before protest hearings. Worth every penny.

Easy to read and clearly based on a broad depth of knowledge and experience on the subject.

Simply the best book on the racing rules. It has clear explanations of all the rules with illustrations of their applications. A bit of humor keeps it pretty light reading. Perry really understands the rules (he's on the US Sailing Appeals Committee). If you ever have a chance to attend one of his lectures on the rules; do it, you will not be disappointed.

This work is an absolute must for the sailboat racer. Perry provides easy-to-understand explanations and critical insights for the newly revised Racing Rules of Sailing.