Sails, Skippers and Sextants: A History of Sailing in 50 Inventors and Innovations

Fifty stories showcasing the impact made by inspiring individuals and inventions on the development of the sailing world as we know it. Which woman made the first solo transatlantic crossing? Who saved thousands of lives with the invention of navigation lights? What is the story behind the invention of the compass? Many of us know the story of modern sailing pioneers - Dame Ellen MacArthur and Francis Chichester, Claire Francis and the challengers of the Americas Cup - but what about those unsung heroes who invented the mechanisms and technology which enabled sailors to speed across the oceans and navigate more safely? George Drower presents fifty stories showcasing the impact made by inspiring individuals on the development of the sailing world as we know it, from the invention of cloud classification and screw propellers to radio telephones and the measurement of tides. This is a book to inspire and intrigue sailors everywhere. AUTHOR: George Drower is a writer and historian, and the author of A History of Gardening in 50 Objects and Heligoland (both The History Press). He has raced at Cowes, Burnham and in the North Sea. He lives in London.
85 b/w illustrations