Book Review — Reeds Crew Handbook

(Read Mike’s the full review here)

When you step aboard a yacht — whether for a Solent weekend hop, a summer cruise to the West Country, or a Cowes regatta — the difference between a smooth sail and a stressful one often comes down to the crew. Clear communication, tidy rope handling, and calm teamwork matter as much as the helm’s decisions.

That’s why Reeds Crew Handbook  by Bill Johnson is such a valuable update for 2025. Compact enough to slip into a kit bag yet packed with diagrams, photos, and step-by-step guidance, it distills decades of seamanship into an accessible manual for anyone sailing aboard yachts up to 50 ft.

This latest edition covers everything from clothing layers and knots to sail trim, berthing, and emergencies like man-overboard. It also adds a new section on racing roles, making it equally relevant for weekend cruisers and club racers. Johnson’s tone is supportive and practical: he speaks directly to crew members, not instructors, which makes his advice immediately actionable afloat.

In my full 2,000-word review, I found the strongest sections to be on sail handling (finally making tell-tales “click”), berthing teamwork (reducing pontoon stress), and emergency drills (calm, clear, realistic). Compared with RYA handbooks, this guide is more approachable, with modern graphics and explanations that empower crew rather than overwhelm them.

For Day Skippers, it’s a brilliant briefing aid. For Competent Crew, it’s an empowering roadmap. And for late starters like me, it’s reassurance that we can add real value on board.

If you want a book that helps every hand on deck shine — Reeds Crew Handbook (2nd Edition) deserves a place in your sailing bag.

Mike