Help for a beginner please

[Adrian Dale]

Dear All,

I am a commercial artist who has started to turn his attention to sailboats as my subject matter. This was prompted when I was working down near Pendennis yard when the J-Class 'Ranger' was comming out of refit . She provided an astounding spectacle. I will be off to Valencia in Aprill to extend my portfolio. Prior to doing so however, I was wondering if anybody could spare a few minutes here and there to email in person to answer a few basic questions about yachting design terms which I do not fully understand. I am a novice to this field and would not want to clutter up the forum by sounding like the yacht-design version of Homer Simpson .

Any help appreciated.

Ade

the_tundra_wind@mthtrains.com

[Kaa]

This might be a start

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautical_terms

Kaa

[SailDesign]

Adrian,
I know this may sound strange, but your best bet for terminology and understandng of how things SHOULD look is to go sailing. Even to just go out on a small motorboat and watch boats sailing will help. You would be amazed at the number of otherwise superb artists who just cannot depict a sailng boat to save their lives. When you have sailed a bit, you don't make those mistakes....
Steve

[Adrian Dale]

Thanks for that folks. As it happens, I spent many years living on Portland in Dorset by the national sailing academy. I did a bit of sailing. In particuar, I many a good time in amphibious vehicles. Hardly sailing, but fun non the less.

[khasmoth]

Try www.abc-of-sailing.com.. There are few terms there that I'm sure will help you.