Table of Contents
Preface vii
Introduction ix
Acknowledgements xiv
1 What's in a Boat 1
Boarding 1
The hull 2
The mast 3
The engine 4
The galley 7
Steering systems 9
2 Moving the Boat 11
Theory 11
Dealing with shore lines 14
Leaving the berth 19
Practical boat handling 20
Returning to the berth 25
3 First Ventures 27
Reading the chart 27
Aids to navigation 32
Venturing out of harbour 37
The wide blue yonder 41
4 Beginning to Sail as a Skipper 42
Theory of sail 42
First steps under sail 47
Sails and winches 49
Basic sailing 57
Exercises 61
5 Seamanship 63
Preparation for sea 63
Deck safety 64
Mechanics of stowing headsails 65
Sail selection and shortening down 67
Engine troubleshooting 71
6 Essential Navigation Theory 77
Position and distance 77
Direction 79
Tides 82
The electronic chart plotter - a caveat 88
7 Practical Navigation 89
Knowing where you are 89
Onward navigation 96
8 Arriving In Port 100
Pilotage 100
Choosing a berth 105
9 Etiquette 107
Flag etiquette 107
Rafting up 108
10 Weather 111
Beaufort wind scale 111
Visibility 114
Weather systems 114
Sources of weather forecasts 117
11 Making the Passage 120
Preparation 120
Conducting the yacht on passage 123
Living aboard on passage 126
Evaluating 129
12 Advanced Navigation 130
Further tidal height theory 130
Intermediate tidal heights 132
Cross-tide navigation 136
Compass deviation 143
Electronic chart plotters 146
Correcting charts 148
13 Fog 150
Safety in fog 150
Fog tactics 153
Navigation in fog 153
14 Anchoring, Mooring and Boat Bandung 158
Manoeuvres under power 158
Manoeuvres under sail 163
Further skills 169
15 Emergencies and How to Prevent Them 172
Keeping out of trouble 172
Man overboard 175
General distress, and search and rescue assistance 180
And Beyond… 185
Glossary 186
Appendix 1 Checklist or Leaving the Boat 190
Appendix 2 Measurements 191
Index 192
