All the books below have been
recommended by local racers
 

Beginning Racing Books

Around the Bouys: A Manual of Sailboat Racing Tactics and Strategy
This one is a good starter book for someone just starting racing--covers the basics of all aspects of racing. Written by Mike Huck, Jr. (a former local racer) and occasionally mentions racing conditions in the Indian River. -- Sherry

What the official blurb says:  “Around the Buoys is a guide for beginning and intermediate racers who are mired in the bottom or middle of the fleet. The first start-to-finish book for small-boat racers in 10 years, it dissects all the elements, then puts them together to show how they interrelate.  With the help of numerous diagrams, readers will also learn to recognize when they are threatened on the race course and when they must move to realize a potential advantage.”

Advanced Racing Books

Championship Tactics
This book is written from the point of view of the tactician, and is packed with tactical strategies and advice.  One you’ll want to read and re-read a number of times to get the full benefit (as you learn). Expensive book, but well worth it. It is the #1 book in my library. --Sherry

What the official blurb says:  “Championship Tactics gives expert advice in a collection of stories from the greatest sailing races of recent decades, and includes profusely diagrammed professional secrets that even the Wednesday-night club racer can use. All boat racers will benefit from this professional collection of tips!”

Sail Like a Champion
This book is written from the point of view of a racing boat skipper.  Covers everything from boat construction, sail construction, boat setup, and racing tactics. Definitely not just about America’s Cup racing.  Also has a lot of anecdotal information about Dennis Connor, how he started sailing, and what makes him tick.  Well worth reading for both sets of information.  --Sherry

From Library Journal:  After racing boats for 30 years (as this reviewer has), one feels that there is little new to be learned. However, as sailor Connor says himself, he learned something  by writing this book. While Connor uses many personal illustrative examples, he does not seem intent on glorifying himself, and indeed his recommendations are often valuable. He covers all aspects of sailboat racing (e.g., sails, wind conditions, rig tuning), and concludes with a chapter on competing in the race  itself. Many good diagrams and drawings help interpret the written material.--Robert E. Greenfield

Sailing Smart
Buddy Melges is more of a one-design / small boat racer than Dennis Connor and Gary Jobson, and so this book has more information aimed at the smaller boat sailor.  Good supplement to the other two (and cheaper). -- Sherry

"When the best sailor in the world, Buddy Melges, reveals his secrets of success through a gifted writer, Charles Mason, one might expect the resulting book to be something special. Sailing Smart is that and more! Every sailor can learn from this book -- especially the good sailor who aspires to become very good." -- Bob Bavier, Yachting