The Yacht Dissected and Explained
By Nic Compton
Published by Adlard Coles Nautical 192 pages
hardcover $60
Whether you’ve enjoyed sailing for decades or have just been bitten by the bug, The Anatomy of Sail by author and photographer Nic Compton is both an encyclopedic compilation of every element comprising a sailing yacht and a visual feast.
Starting with the history of yachting and boatbuilding, Compton describes the evolution of sailboats and then focuses on specific parts, including the hull and deck, the rig, deck structures, fittings and equipment, and mechanical and electrical systems. Key components from keels, sheers and standing rigging to binnacles, winches and passerelles are explored, with explanations of how each was developed and how they work, and their similarities and differences.
Packed with yachting history, peppered with boatbuilding trivia and fascinating anecdotes and lavishly illustrated with gorgeous photography and explanatory diagrams, The Anatomy of Sail is sure to please anyone who’s ever sailed or admired a yacht. Ask for it at your favorite independent bookseller!
Brought up on boats until the age of 15, Nic Compton worked as a shipwright before becoming a full-time writer and photographer. The Editor of Classic Boat magazine until 2000, he has written several books on maritime subjects, including Iain Oughtred: A Life in Wooden Boats, The Sea: A Photographic Celebration, Titanic on Trial and Why Sailors Can’t Swim and Other Marvellous Maritime Curiosities, all published by Adlard Coles Nautical. ■
