by Terence North
Illustrated by H.H.R. Etheridge
From the Preface: The author of this book, Terence North, served in the full rigged ship William Mitchell at a time when she was already one of the last of the British square-rigged vessels. He thus received a training in sail which is fast becoming rare. Finding that his whole interest lay in small sailing vessels, he spent some years sailing yachts on the British coast. Then he started on the most adventurous period of his life, running a trading schooner in the West Indies. Later, with a friend, he built a small sloop with which he continued trading in those waters; at this time he experimented with various types of sail and, having no auxiliary engine fitted, acquired a wide knowledge and appreciation of sail. On his return to England he started in business making sails for yachts and small coasting vessels. Before he had finished this book he met with a fatal accident. Terence North was an enthusiast and understood not only the making but the actual handling of all Genoas, reaching foresails and other modern sails. He saw what little information existed on the subject of yact sails: how difficult it was for the average yachtsman who wished to alter his vessel’s rig or even buy a new sail to understand the difference in sail cloths, or to appreciate in many cases the benefits to be derived from sails of various types. While planning this book, he spent every spare moment in sailing small vessels of all classes and writing down his views on the information obt~ined. The knowledge he had acquired was not to be lost, for through the assistance of many friends this book was finally completed.--BERYL NORTH
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