"Hand Reef and Steer"
Traditional Sailing Skills for Classic Boats by Tom Cunliffe
Reviewed By Frank Hagan

     For the builder of a gaff rigged vessel, details on rigging options are few and far between. There just aren’t that many sources on-line, or in modern sailing books that can help give alternatives for such arcane topics as constructing mast hoops verses lacing the main sail to the mast, or details on running rigging. Some books, such as Knowing the Ropes (reviewed in the last issue of The Gaff Rig), will contain a chapter or two on gaff rigs. But Tom Cunliffe has given us a rich resource indeed. "Hand Reef and Steer" is one of the few modern books dealing exclusively with the gaff rig.
     When searching for this book, be aware that an out-of-print book on single-handed circumnavigation shares the title, but is completely different in content. Be certain that you find the volume written by Cunliffe.
     At first glance, there seems to be a lot of historical information in Hand Reef and Steer, but what Cunliffe has done is describe nearly every imaginable type of craft using a gaff rig. The historical perspective is interesting, and before long you have a sense of the evolutionary nature of what we consider a "traditional gaff rig" today.
     Then, after introducing us to the various types of boats using a gaff rig, Cunliffe selects the gaff cutter to describe nearly every aspect of that sail plan’s rigging. Because the cutter has every rigging feature the other types have, you immediately identify those rigging features you need to consider. Construction details are provided by full color illustrations that are clear, and beautiful.
     Once the rigging details are out of the way, Hand Reef and Steer devotes some time to sail trimming and other tips for sailing the gaff rigged vessel. Variations on "shortening sail" such as reefing and scandalizing are given, and techniques for heavy and light weather sailing are also given their due in separate chapters. Specifics for downwind and slow speed sailing (again, in separate chapters) and a chapter on "Practical Manoeuvering" [sic] complete the sailing portion of the book. Throughout the sailing chapters, Cunliffe keeps the mood light with his wry sense of humor showing through. For instance, on hoisting topsails while underweigh, he first gives detailed instructions, and then advises not to try this in front of the local yacht club, else you discover that public humiliation is but one of the many ways such a practice can be punished.
     I used many of the illustrations from Hand Reef and Steer on my "The Gaff Rig Pages" web site http://www.vcnet.com/~fhagan/gaffrig.htm that can be viewed to see the quality of the illustrations. I also included a list of illustrations, compiled by hand, since the publisher did not include one. Because the illustrations are so valuable, the lack of this list is my only complaint about the book.
     Published in October, 1992, Hand Reef and Steer is available only in hardback, and discounts are hard to come by. Amazon.com does offer it for $39.50. It has a wealth of information, and is nearly coffee-table quality (although at about 8" x 10", it is a bit small to be considered a coffee table book.) For ordering purposes, use the ISBN number (0924486406) to make sure the title is not confused with the out of print book.