To Harness the Wind: A Short History of the Development of Sails - Hardcover

Block, Leo

 
9781557502094: To Harness the Wind: A Short History of the Development of Sails
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 1557502099 ISBN 13: 9781557502094
Verlag: Naval Institute Press, 2003

Inhaltsangabe

Man was a sailor long before he invented the wheel or straddled a horse, and his adventures at sea changed the course of history. Initially he was able to sail only downwind, but the Cretans and Phoenicians made design improvements to sails that permitted sailing across and eventually against the wind. The Vikings optimized the performance of the square sail, and the Dutch modified the Arab lateen to create the sail commonly used today. Leo Block tells the story of the evolution of sails and relates it to historic events and other factors that affected the performance of sailing vessels. Numerous illustrations help explain the technical factors involved.

Focusing mainly on European improvements, Block details the progress of sail design from the lateen to the square, fore and aft, and classic rigs right up to the swift clipper ships of the nineteenth century just before the advent of steam power. Written in laymen's terms, the book is an excellent learning tool for readers who know little about the history of sailing vessels and a quick reference guide for sailors who want a reminder of how their craft evolved.

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Reseña del editor

Man was a sailor long before he invented the wheel or straddled a horse, and his adventures at sea changed the course of history. Initially he was able to sail only downwind, but the Cretans and Phoenicians made design improvements to sails that permitted sailing across and eventually against the wind. The Vikings optimized the performance of the square sail, and the Dutch modified the Arab lateen to create the sail commonly used today. Leo Block tells the story of the evolution of sails and relates it to historic events and other factors that affected the performance of sailing vessels. Numerous illustrations help explain the technical factors involved.Focusing mainly on European improvements, Block details the progress of sail design from the lateen to the square, fore and aft, and classic rigs right up to the swift clipper ships of the nineteenth century just before the advent of steam power. Written in laymen's terms, the book is an excellent learning tool for readers who know little about the history of sailing vessels and a quick reference guide for sailors who want a reminder of how their craft evolved.

Biografía del autor

Leo Block, a retired captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve, is the author of Diesel Engines: A Boat Owner's Guide to Operation and Maintenance. His articles on boating and seamanship have appeared in Sea Magazine.

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Verlag
Naval Institute Press
Erscheinungsdatum
2003
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 10 
1557502099
ISBN 13 
9781557502094
Einband
Tapa dura
Anzahl der Seiten
176
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