A practical handbook presents concise, hands-on guidance for selecting, equipping, and handling small sailing craft in calm and foul weather. Topics include choosing hulls and rigs, trial handling, sail plans for cat, yawl, and knockabout types, beating to windward, running and gybing, and tactics for squalls, anchoring, and avoidance of collisions. The work also explains rigging and marlinespike seamanship, compass and chart basics, navigation by dead-reckoning, maintenance and winter lay-up, provisioning and cooking aboard, and useful recipes and diagrams. Advice emphasizes safety, economy, and techniques suited to single-handed or cruising sailors.