Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Book review: Winning Isn't Luck by Fred Imhoff

by Magnus Smith 11 Sep 2016 12:09 PDT 11 September 2016
Winning Isn't Luck by Fred Imhoff © Magnus Smith

Seeing this book title really made me chuckle, and I have a soft spot for Imhoff from my childhood, when I would drool over photos of Flying Dutchman control systems in his 1984 book, which is literally within reach of where I sit in my office. I cheerfully requested a review copy of the new book.

I'm pleased to report it has lots of good bits of information, many small tips that I think are worth remembering, as well as some larger discourses that I think I need to re-read to understand fully.

Thank goodness the diagrams are numerous; they really help explain things so much better than text. Some of those diagrams gave me real eye-opening moments. Page 66 was a personal favourite, which means I now shouldn't pick the wrong side of the beat when considering tide/current. The only trouble comes when you realise a racing sailor must consider all these little nuggets of knowledge simultaneously, and weigh up the advantages of one over the other if they oppose.

Imhoff's discussion of protest technique elicited a laugh. He's a cunning fellow! I did a little research on other books that consider protests and they seem rather rare. Eric Twiname does cover them in 'Start to Win' (also in print from Adlard Coles Nautical / Bloomsbury). I did like Imhoff's approach though. The advice is great for mid-fleet sailors, who may not see a protest at their club for years, then get embroiled in one at a championship.

Upon reaching the back of the book I was delighted to see it had a proper index. Maybe I am a bit of a book geek, but no-one likes flicking pages endlessly when (say) you can't recall where the bit about blanketing was.

That reminds me, the analysis of blanketing was definitely a whole new way of thinking. Very scientific, yet proven by practical observation too. I will store that one away and hope my brain can retrieve it when required.

To decide if this book is right for you, use the 'Look inside!' feature on Amazon to virtually flick through the pages. I've also reproduced the list of chapter titles below. Whilst I am a dinghy sailor, the book has been written with equal attention to small keelboats too.

Book details

Fred Imhoff
Winning Isn't Luck
How to Succeed in Racing Dinghies and Yachts
Paperback, with ebook editions in EPUB, PDF and Kindle format
FIrst edition 2016
For sale at www.bloomsbury.com/uk/winning-isnt-luck-9781472922465

"Imhoff doesn't believe he was a better helmsman than his competitors -
he just thought more about all the aspects that contributed to his success."

Contents

  • INTRODUCTION
  • ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES
  • PREPARATION
  • EQUIPMENT
  • THE FORCES ON FITTINGS AND LINES
  • THE HOW AND WHY OF TRIMMING
  • WEATHER HELM
  • TRIMMING ON WAVES
  • METEOROLOGY
  • SAILBOAT RACING IN CURRENT
  • TACTICS
  • PROTESTS AND WHAT THEY ENTAIL
  • THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SAILBOAT RACING
  • INSTRUMENTS
  • HOW SAILS WORK
  • AFTERWORD
  • FURTHER READING
  • INDEX

Related Articles

The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? Posted on 2 Jul
Some thoughts on provisioning for distance sailing
A new perspective on provisioning and time spent at sea One of the great joys of distance racing unfurls the moment that the dock lines are untied. Suddenly, the myriad packing lists that inevitably define most trip-planning efforts become about as relevant as a tax return from eight years ago. Posted on 1 Jul
Bill Guilfoyle on the 2025 Transpacific Yacht Race
Bill Guilfoyle discusses the 2025 Transpacific Yacht Race When it comes to offshore sailing in the United States, the biennial Transpacific Yacht Race reigns supreme for its distance and promise of off-the-breeze sailing angles. Posted on 1 Jul
Jazz Turner completes Project FEAR
Drama right to the end in her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles Jazz Turner has completed Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin 27 yacht. A flotilla of supporters met her in Seaford Bay, which grew and grew the closer they came to Brighton Marina. Posted on 1 Jul
One thing. One big, very fast boat
One thing that opened the door, another made us enquire some more - 50 knots! Yes. It was one thing that opened the door, as it were. One thing that piqued the curiosity enough to go, ‘I'll take a look at that!' One thing that when you're trying to crack in excess of 50 knots... Posted on 30 Jun
A brief history of marine instrument networks
Hugh Agnew has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge One man who has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge, is Hugh Agnew, the Cambridge-educated mathematician who is one of the founders of A+T Instruments in Lymington, so I spoke to him to find out more... Posted on 25 Jun
Harald Findlay on the 2025 Edgartown Race Weekend
A Q&A with Harald Findlay on the 2025 Edgartown Race Weekend When it comes to racing sailboats on the East Coast of the United States in the summer months, few places are as classic as the waters surrounding Martha's Vineyard's northwestern flank. Posted on 18 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom. Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality. Posted on 17 Jun
The Big Bash
Every summer the tournament rolls into town. A short format of the game. Fun and excitement abound. Every summer the tournament rolls into town. Local and international players. A short format of the game, run over a relatively compact six-week season. Posted on 15 Jun
PredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOMSelden 2020 - FOOTERBarton Marine Pipe Glands