Principles of Yacht Design has established itself as the standard book on the subject for practising designers, naval architecture students, discerning boat owners as well as the boatbuilding industry as a whole.

The fifth edition is completely revised and expanded and follows the design from scratch of a yacht including computer-generated explanatory illustrations. As such, it examines every aspect of the process of yacht and powerboat design. The new edition includes new findings from recent research in aero and hydrodynamics, as well as covering the most recent changes to building standards.

The authors have used a newly built 41-foot performance cruiser to demonstrate the practical application of yacht design theory. The new edition includes photos of the building process. Beginning with the yacht's specifications, the authors examine the vital topics of aero and hydrodynamics looking in detail at hull geometry, keel and rudder design, balance, hull forces, rig design and conclude with practical matters such as the layout of the cockpit, deck and cabin, and also provide a complete weight calculation for the boat.