Table of Contents
Preface 9
General Tips 10
1 The First Rule of Good Seamanship 10
2 Stand on or Give Way: Follow the Rule of the Road 11
3 Mark the Centre of the Helm 13
4 Are You Going to Collide? 14
5 Measure Speed by Eye 16
6 Calculate the Displacement Speed of Your Hull 18
7 Wind Direction 19
8 Will the Weather Worsen or Improve? 19
9 Departure Checklist 20
10 Chartering Checklist 22
11 High Water by Looking at the Moon 25
Mooring and Anchoring 26
12 How to Share a Cleat 26
13 Show the End of the Line: Visual Signals 27
14 Mooring Lines that Make Life Easier 28
15 Easy Fender Storage 29
16 Use Two or Four Lines for Mooring? 30
17 Use Polypropylene Rope for Coming Alongside 32
18 Set Lines to Slip 34
19 How the Dominant Force will Affect You When You Cast Off 35
20 Casting Off: Use a Head Spring on a Rustler's Hitch 36
21 Casting Off: Use a Bow Bridle to Hold the Boat Alongside 38
22 How to Tell the Dominant Force When Mooring 40
23 Fender at Pontoon Height to Fender at Gunwale Height 41
24 Not-Cleats? Use a Snap Hook 42
25 Stress-Free Mooring with a Stern Bridle 44
26 Rafting Up: A Short Midship Line is Key 46
27 Med Mooring in a Strong Crosswind 47
28 Pick Up a Mooring Buoy First Time 48
29 Never be Afraid to Ask for Help 49
30 Overrunning the Mooring Buoy 50
31 Don't be Afraid to Fit a Bow Thruster 51
32 How to Lower the Anchor in a Hurry 52
33 Bouncy Anchorage 54
34 Peace of Mind Anchoring 54
35 Is Your Anchor Holding? 56
36 Break Out a Stuck Anchor 57
Sailing 58
37 True and Apparent Wind 58
38 Where to Spot Apparent Wind Indicators 60
39 Lee Bowing 61
40 Anticipate the Wind Shift Near the Shore 62
41 Instant Sheet Lead Adjustment 63
42 Safety Turn on a Winch 65
43 Snag-Free Sheets 65
44 How to Read Telltales 66
45 A Flappy Sail is Not a Happy Sail 68
46 Reef Early 69
47 Anti-Wrap Net for Your Spinnaker 70
48 Stopper Knots 71
49 Mark Port and Starboard 72
50 Soft Shackles 73
51 Pass Downtide of Buoys 74
52 Autopilot is a Valuable Member of the Crew 74
53 Don't Become Too Absorbed in the Detail 75
Navigation 76
54 The 1 in 60 Rule 76
55 Instant Course Alteration Calculator - Use Your Fingers for Measuring 78
56 Use the Chart Plotter to Calculate When to Tack 79
57 Spectacle Deviation 80
58 Eyesight Getting Tired: Use Higher Magnification Glasses 80
59 Set the Shading on the Chart Plotter to Your Preferred Depth 81
60 Matt Laminates 82
61 Clearing Bearings 82
62 Head Bearings and Back Bearings 84
63 How to Avoid Lobster and Crab Pots at Night 85
Safety 86
64 A Look After Your Safety Kit 86
65 Do You Really Need a Six-Person Liferaft? 87
66 Make Sure Your Safety Equipment is Serviced and in Date 88
67 Mob Beacons 90
68 Mob Lifesavers 92
About the Boat 94
69 Know Your Ropes 94
70 Always Hang Ropes Up 95
71 Rustler's Hitch 96
72 Frap that Halyard 98
73 Tie the Boom off to One Side in Port 100
74 Lash the Furling Headsail 101
75 Fit the Spare 101
76 How to Attach a Halyard to the Bosun's Chair 102
77 Clean Green from Sprayhoods and Sail Covers 103
78 Calibrate the Depth Sounder 104
79 Make Your Own Bungee to Tame the Main 106
80 Step on the Stern Line to Bring the Boat in 108
81 Creak Preventer 109
82 Mouse that Shackle 109
83 Udder Ointment: Antifoul? 110
84 Save Space in the Galley 111
85 Zip Care with Vaseline 111
86 Spec Savers 112
87 Don't Make Drinks Too Hot 112
88 Reduce Chafe: Chafe is Your Enemy 113
89 Silicone those Seals 114
90 Instant Leak Sealer 114
91 Keep Your Nav Lights Bright 115
Engines 116
92 When You Wobble, Check the Raw Water O-Ring/Seal 116
93 Carry Outboards Leg Down 117
94 Know Your Engine 118
95 Know Your Alarm Sounds 119
96 Replace Throttle, Gear and Stop Cables to Ensure they're Working When You Need Them 120
97 Know Your Smoke 121
98 A Neat Way to Check that Water is Cooling Your Engine 122
99 Keep a Log of Actual Fuel Consumption 122
100 Mark the Neutral Position on the Gear Lever 124
101 Overwinter with Full Fuel Tanks 125
Index 126
