What I REALLY liked about this book, to get right to it, is that I understood every direction immediately. Now, you need to know that there are hardly any words in this book!!! That's right, it's basically just a picture book of one specific line or line set. The drawings show you where the line runs, where it's tied off, how it's tied off, and that's all!! It's great! No complicated wordy instructions to translate, just the lines, clear and easy.

The ship that Mr. Petersson uses for his example is the HMS Melampus, an English frigate (36 guns, 18 pounder). By using his drawings, you'll get to know the finer points for that period, but take care here. If you are building a "Mayflower" (as I am now) or a "Victory", "Wasa", or "San Felipe" you'll need to make a few adjustments in your building from the drawings. Just don't copy the picture, match the lines purpose to your particular vessel, if that vessel even had that line.

Great reference, and you should have one. Thanks Mr. Petersson, who by the way lives in Sweden!!

Boy, I wish I'd got this first, instead of some other books - this is just brilliant.
This book does just what its title says, teaches you in oh-so-easy steps how to rig a period ship. It makes no pretence at describing the different sizes of rigging and blocks (other books provide that info), but it does tell you exactly where each line is attached, which blocks it runs through, and, most importantly, where it is belayed ... in full-page, easy-to-understand line drawings, with all extraneous detail removed, and call-outs showing which is what. As one browses through, it all becomes clear ... rigging is not arbitrary, there are rules, and they make real sense when presented in this accessible manner.
The body of the book has ONE page of text - the rest is ALL graphics - brilliant!
In another review, I complained about that book's lack of clarity on belaying-points; this book tackles that problem in spades!
Anyone requiring a book on accurate routing of running and standing rigging need look no further - gets my 5 stars!

Well here we go again, another book putting me closer and closer to discarding the instructions that came with my kit. For a model builder, life would be difficult without this book. Every rigging line is right there in front of your eyes. Just for clarification, there are no step by step instructions just complete drawings of rigging sequences. All lines are labeled for you on there perspective drawings and there is a set of excellent belaying plans for you near the end of the book. No reading is necessary, just looking. I wondered about its price tag for a book with only drawings but soon realized that all this info in one source was available no where else. Well designed and an informative resource.
Michael