The Shallow Water Sailor Sailing Manual

Acknowledgments

"When you sail slowly, a wonderful evolution occurs:  The mind also seems to slow down and you become more and more aware of the world around you. You delight in small things— the feel of the wind, the bounding of the boat, and the sizzle of the water under the bow."

                                              In the Teeth of the Northeaster by Marlin Bree


Contributors
Will add new contributors and reviewers

            Ken Murphy did the majority of the writing of this manual.  But he has been helped and guided by many members of the Shallow Water Sailors and HensNest Group.  Ken sails a Bay Hen and provided information relative to that particular boat.  He needed help to fill-in the knowledge and experience with the other Shallow Water Sailor boats.  Allen Tedder, a Marsh Hen sailor, contributed most of the Sprit Rig section and added, here and there, additions to the rest of the manual. Herman Hopple, also a Marsh Hen sailor (but his boat has a gaff rig), contributed portions of the sailing sections and also contributed to the manual as a whole.  Keith Davis contributed the bearing maintenance information. Nick Mediator contributed to the Sail Alternative sections.  Steven Kreitlow added the section on Scandalizing the Graff Rig and John Parsons contributed to the Trailer Section.  Other Shallow Water Sailor and HensNest members contributed ideas that appear throughout the manual.  For instance Ed Kesgen added his Peep Hen customization projects that will be helpfull to our Peepers.
  
Reviewers

Main References Used

          The basic outline of the Hen Manual was copied for this manual.  During the writing of that manual Larry Brown’s Sailing America, and Peter Duff’s Dovekie Manual, were continually referred to. Also, The Catboat and How to Sail Her, published by the Catboat Association, was used to check our thoughts concerning the gaff rig and how it should be trimmed.  Peter's Dovekie Manual has been reproduced as a PDF document at the end of this manual and parts of it copied right into this manual's body.

The “I” Word

          You will notice the use of the “I” word throughout the manual. It could have been removed, but was kept for two reasons; (1) it emphasizes the fact that the manual is based mostly on the personal experience of dedicated SWS and HenNest sailors and (2) it more effectively brings across the fact the most learning is an act of sharing ideas and experiences from one boater to another. The “I” may stand for any one of the several contributors or reviewers above.

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