Weiss provides a helpful historic overview of sailing over the ages and basic boating terminology for the newer sailor. I discovered this book just after I had purchased a ten-foot wooden Penguin sailboat the Fall of 2019. This book was my first introduction to sailing and was a fun, easy eighty page read easily finished on a Winter Day with hot cocoa. Weiss begins the book with the oft-told and beloved story of Swedish Captain Heyerdahl and his raft the Kon-Tiki that successfully demonstrated South American Indians could traverse the Pacific to settle in the Samoan Islands. I was particularly interested in the instructions of model boat building as my ten-foot Penguin was built from a kit back in the 1930's and is still a tough, sturdy boat in 2022. This book focuses on small sail craft, and it is important to note that while the principals are the same, small boats move differently than their larger counterparts. Small boats are very quick to responds to even the lightest touch of the rudder. Anyone who has sailed a Hobie Cat of the popular Laser race boats can attest to the nimble and quick handling of smaller boats. In addition to Weiss's historical introduction and in-depth instructions on model boat building, he reviews the vocabulary of boating and how to sail. The book ends with helpful tips on gaining access to sailboats by joining the 'Sea Scouts' (like Boy Scouts) or "bring up the subject of sailing in conversation with as many people as possible" which is one hundred percent the formula to getting onto a boat. The sailing network is vast, and you can always find someone to 1.) Proudly show off their boat and all its features, 2.) Give you lessons, or 3.) Both. Although this book was published in 1967, the principles of sailing are timeless, and this book can be enjoyed one hundred years from now. This book was an easy and informative introduction to the novice sailor as well as a fun refresher for the seasoned Captain.