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Practical Seamanship


Table of Contents 

Dedication
Introduction
Prioritize Your Time
Defensive Seamanship
Staying Current
Crew Size
Check Lists
Stay In Touch
Register Your Book
Visit Us On the Internet
Priorities
Acknowledgements

Preparation

Pre-Departure Survey

Access
Steering Gear
Through-Hull Fittings
Self-Steering
Propulsion Machinery
The Rig
Sails
Chafe
Running Rigging
Deck Hardware
Lifeline Systems
Safety Gear
Ground Tackle
Checking for Leaks
Bilge Pumping
Securing the Interior
Electronics

Shakedown Cruise

Mechanical Systems
Loading the Engine
Maintenance Procedures
Sail Trials
Rig Tune
After a Couple of Days
Electronics
Cockpit Drains
Leaks (Again!)

Clearing the Decks

Don’t Compromise Your Stability
Headsail Change
Don’t Procrastinate!

How the Pros Do It
Thomas Perry

Getting Ready to Head to Sea
Safety First
Advice for Those Just Starting Out

Boat Handling

Shortening the Learning Curve
Speed

Current vs. Boat Speed
Weather Avoidance
Speed/Length Ratios

Performance-Affecting Factors

Cruising Displacement.
Sail Inventory
Underwater Condition
Boat Heel
Weather Helm
Steering Control
Keel Load
Wind Shear

Maintaining Performance

Up in the Lulls, Down in the Puffs
Tradewind Cycles
Closer to Shore
The Vang

Sail Trim

Headsails
Mainsail

Using Telltales

Setting Up the Jib
Sailing to Jib Telltales
Mainsail Telltales
Spinnaker Indicators

Controlling Sail Shape

Mainsail
Headsails

Sailing Upwind

Sail Selection
Headsail Trim While Beating
Mainsail Control
Steering Technique
Steering Indicators
Working the Wind Shifts
Sailing to Target Boat Speed
Windvane Settings
Using the Autopilot
Coordinating With Sail Trim
Helm Balance
Waiting Out the Weather
Avoiding Waves

Tacking

Hydrodynamic Issues
Working the Sheets
Tacking Techniques
In Heavy Airs
In Big Seas
In Irons

Reaching

Mainsail Trim
Headsail Selection
Reaching Headsail Trim
Twin Headsail Reaching
Steering Technique

Broad Reaching and Running

Sheeting to the Main Boom
Single Headsail to Weather
Twin Headsails Downwind
Free-Flying Headsails
Main Boom Sheeting Angle
Scandalizing the Mainsail

Steering at Broad Angles

Design Issues
Steering Technique
Impact of Sea State
Using Wind Shifts
Setting Self-Steering
Cross Chop Issues
As the Wind Increases

Jibing Downwind

Extra Distance vs. Speed
Wind and Wave Factors

Jibing the Main

Reducing Jibing Loads

Spinnakers

When to Use a Spinnaker
Setting the Spinnaker
Spinnaker Trim
Asymmetric Chutes
Twin-Pole Jibing
Single-Pole Jibe
Hourglasses
Headstay Wraps
Spinnaker Takedown
Emergency Release

Handling the Spinnaker Pole

Mast-Mounted Systems
Setting the Pole
Dropping the Pole

Sailing by the Lee
Preventers
Surfing

Wave Mechanics
Surfing and Hull Shape
Steering Control
The Role of Displacement
Sail Area
Helming in Higher Performance Boats
Helming Technique in Heavy Boats

When It Is Time to Reef

Reefing the Main
Sail Slides or Bolt Rope?
Watch that Boom
Sail Ties
Roller Reefing Jibs

Fully Battened Mains

Hardware Considerations
Hoisting
Sailing with a Fully Battened Mainsail
Dropping the Main

Being Comfortable at Sea

Do Not Overpower
Going to Windward
Pinching Up
Downwind Comfort
Picking the Best Speed
Reducing Yaw Downwind
In a Leftover Sea
Oversheeting to Reduce Rolling
Picking a Comfortable Course
Light and Sloppy

Motorsailing

Range under Power
Downwind Motorsailing
Upwind Motorsailing in Light Airs
Upwind Motorsailing in Heavy Conditions
Special Considerations
Prop Cavitation
Running Rigging in the Prop

Sailing in Tight Quarters

Rig Configuration
Cabo San Lucas
Using Sails to Help Steer
Pre-Planning
Anchors Ready
Working in Close to Land
East London
Setting the Hook
Anchor Size
Room to Leeward
"Average" Boom Position
Sailing Bare Headed

Backing Down under Sail

The Backstaysail
Split Rigs
Steering in Reverse
Using the Mainsail
Backwards in New Zealand
Getting the Bow to Pay Off

Sailing Out the Anchor

Favored Tack
Beating in Tight Quarters
When It Is Blowing
Using Just the Jib

Ken Argent

Watch Standing
Weather Routing
First Sail of the Season

Working on Deck

Safety at Sea

Use a Safety Harness
Tethers
Connection Points
Handholds
Working the Deck
Don’t Stand in a Bight of Line
Shoes
Toerail

The Foredeck

Halyards
Mast Preparation
Making up Halyards
Sail Preparation
Foredeck Netting
Night Preparation
Basic Safety Precautions
Handling Headsails
Downwind Sail Changes
Changing Roller-Furled Jibs
Upwind Foredeck Work
Sail Overboard

Handling Running Rigging

Avoid Overload
Effects of Rope Construction
Bitter Ends
Coiling Lines
Flaking
Using Manual Winches
Easing under High Load
Overrides
Hockles and Twists
Powered Winches
Jammers and Clutches
Emergency Release

Knots

Using High-Tech Line as Shackles
Rope End Details

Going Aloft

Overcoming Anxiety
Bo’s’un’s Chair

Secondary Support
What to Take
Is the Spar Secure?

Setting up Halyards
Motion Aloft
Turning Blocks
Pre-Planning
Hoisting
On Your Own
Working up the Mast
At the Masthead
Deck Crew
Communicating from Aloft
Coming Down
Dealing with an Override
At Sea

Communicating on Deck

Steering under Power
Sail Trim Signals
Docking Signals
At Night
Concentration Is Required

Staying Fit

On Shore
On Board
Keeping Track

Skip Allen

Single-handed Issues
Weather
When You Are Just Starting Out


Watchkeeping

Basic Watch Systems

Three-Hour System
Kids Can Help Too
At Night
Staying Awake
Snacks
Entertainment
Getting Back to Sleep

Radar For Watchkeeping?

Radar Alarms
Weather Alert
Gain Settings
Catnapping
Security Issues

Staying Alert

Suvorov
Nature Calls
Keep a Close Watch Near Land

Malakula Island

Shallow Water
Environmental Protection

Flotsam

Precautions
Warning Signs
Containers

At Night

Night Lights
Bona
Peripheral Vision
Atmospheric Conditions
How Far Can You See?
Using Binoculars at Night
Spotlights
Night Scopes

Fishing Traffic

Inshore
Offshore

Tugs and Tows
The Inner Sense

Focus Indirectly
Sound
Yachting One-of-a-Kind Regatta
Smell
Structural Sounds
Motion Signals
Vibration

Breaking in Crew

Lifestyle
On Deck
Emergencies
Standing Watch

Offshore Visibility

Radar Visibility in Sea Clutter
Daylight
Running Lights
Northeast Channe

Avoiding Collision

Night Watch
Daytime Interpretation
Relative Bearings
Altering Course
How to Read Steaming Lights
Using Radar to Define Collision Threats
Talking to Ships
In Heavy Traffic
Narragansett Collision
On Reflection

Rules of the Road

Basic Rules
Between Sailing Vessels
Between Powered Vessels
Between Power and Sail
Signaling
Suction Effect When Passing

Expect the Unexpected

Company
Course Change
Impact
Cleaning Up
In Hindsight

Tonga to Fiji

Worst Position Plot
Moon Shot
Reef Ahead!
Lessons Learned

Reminder–Stay Alert
Bruce Goodhue

Emergency Planning
Working with Crew

Phil Wade

Watchstanding
General Seamanship


Navigation

Moonshadow

Landfall in the Tuamotus
Heading West
Change of Watch
What Went Wrong

Navigation in the Age of GPS

Chart Accuracy
Plotting
Dead Reckoning
Lines of Position
Current
Leeway
Interpreting Charts
Buoyage

Passage to Auckland

Hindsight

Passaging Logic

What Speed Can You Expect?
Towards Ndina
Moonlight
Tidal States
Underwater Features
Landfall Considerations

Navigation Aids

Rules for Defensive Navigation
Pilotage Data
Backing Up Electronics

Radar Navigation

Factors Affecting Radar Image Quality
External Factors
Building Your Skill Level
Tuning and "Gain"
Electronic Target Enhancement
Range
Adjusting for Sea Clutter
Rain Suppression
Interference Rejection
Side Lobes
Interpreting Topography
Turning Radar On and Off
Don’t Forget To Look On Deck!

Electronic Charting

Why Use Electronic Charting?
Navigational Skills
Dedicated Plotter or Laptop Computer?
Hardware Issues
Charts
Operating System
Software Features
GPS Connection–Datum
Autopilot Connection
Using the System

Tides

Celestial Influence
Springs and Neaps
Declination of the Moon
Semidiurnal Tides
Diurnal Tides
Mixed Tides
Sun Tides
Datum

Tidal Currents

In Restricted Areas
Current Flow and Tidal Range
Playing the Currents
Darwin, Australia

Keeping Track

The Logbook
Entry Data
Weather Trends
Onboard Conditions
Using the Data

Celestial Navigation

What to Learn
Hardware

Jubilation

Closing with Shore

Sea Room

Temperate Weather
Inclement Weather
Navigational Issues
If There Is No Choice
Topographical Analysis
Harbor Entrance Conditions
Position Fixing
Crew and Vessel Capability
Maintain Sea Room!

Signs of Approaching Land

Smoothed Seas
Reflected Waves
Crossing Patterns
Current Variation
Debris
Bird Life
Hearing
Smell
Temperature
Clouds
The Loom of Lights

Piloting in Fog

Navigation Issues
Picking the Right Speed
Keeping Watch
Viewing Angles vs. the Sun
Making Yourself More Visible

Entering Harbors at Night

Lay of the Land
Slowing Down for the Approach
At First Light
If It’s the Lesser of Two Evils
What if You Strand?
Reading Shore Lights

Approach to Port Sandwich

Heading In With Depthsounder and Radar

Eyeball Navigation

Equipment
Visibility Factors
Sun Angle
Weather Issues
Towards Blue Lagoon
Interpreting Cloud Shadow
Bottom and Coral Formation
Determining Water Depth

Coral Passes

Current
Breaking Seas
Downwind Passes
Choice in Passes
Inside the Pass
Exiting (Downcurrent)

Malaita Island

Celestial Issues
Cloud Cover
Pre-Departure Once-Over
Water Clarity
Underway
Tidal State

When in Doubt, Don’t!
When You Can’t See the Bottom

Surface Signs
Currents
Water Color
Debris Fields
Going around Curves
Watch the Critters
Buoyage and Markers
Using Ranges
If You Are Unsure
Feeling Your Way

Crossing a Breaking Bar

Current State
Tidal Influences
Wave Height and Period
Bottom Condition
How Will Your Hullshape Do?
Preparation
Judging Wave Patterns
Watch the Locals
Technique in the Break
Inside Looking Out
Worst Case Scenario
More on Current
Knysna Lagoon
Pacific Northwest

Cruising with Ice

Never Run at Night
Ice Forecasting
Big Bergs
Pack Ice
Using Radar
Types of Ice
Icebergs
Tactics in Ice
Carry a Spare Prop
Hull Shape
Using Prop Wash
Waterpump Impellers
Offshore Ice
Warning Signs
Bergy Bits
Iceberg Drift

Hard Core Cruising With Ice

The Right Clothing

Never Take Anything for Granted

Using Your Senses
Knowledge Standards

Anchoring

Cabo San Lucas

Sea Wren’s Song
Lessons

Anchoring Strategies

Anchor Types
Carry an Assortment of Anchors
Storm Hooks for Everyday Use
Bottom Conditions
Scope
Reducing Scope Requirements
Super-Soft Bottoms
Access to Shallow Anchorages
Raiatea
Determining Rode Length
Twin Anchors
Two Anchors in Line
Bow and Stern Hooks
Wind on the Beam
Bahamian Moor
Current against Wind

Picking the Right Spot

Room to Set and Swing
Other Vessels
Traffic
Fetch
Open Anchorages
Bugs
Keeping Cool
Generator and Engine Exhaust
Etiquette
Privacy
Bottom Contour
Getting Out of the Swell

Setting the Hook Under Power

How Much Engine?
Feeling the Rode

Moorings
Anchoring in Coral

Finding a Clear Spot
Is the Anchor Really Dug In?
Special Issues inside Lagoons
Use Chain
Anchoring to a Coralhead

Anchoring outside Tropical Reefs

Tikei
Anchoring Technique
Keeping Watch

Rafting
Anchoring with Extreme Tides
Anchor Watch

Position Fixing
Before Settling Down
Electronic Anchor Watch
Telltale Compass
Wind Alarm

If Conditions Deteriorate

Talking with Your Neighbors
Setting a Second Anchor
Using the Engine
Risks from Other Vessels
Slipping the Anchor

Special Precautions

Shock Absorbers
Rode Chafe
Rapid Anchor Deployment
Anchor Lights

Riding Sails

Sailing at Anchor
Using a Riding Sail
Full-length Battens–A Must

Roll Control

Flopper-Stopper
Rigging the Flopper-Stopper
Using a Bucket
Sailbags
Air Stabilizers
Anchor Rode Bridles

Leaving the Boat

Short Trips Ashore
A Few Days Away
Long Term
Making Up a Mooring
Choosing a Marina
Caretakers

Retrieving the Anchor

In a Blow
Powering Up
Winching

Fouled Anchors

Coral Fouls
Tripping the Anchor Free
Diving On the Anchor
Diving in Murky Waters

Hurricane at Anchor

Where Do You Shelter?
Securing the Boat
Anchoring Considerations
On-Deck Preparation

Al & Beth Liggett

Guam
Cat’s Cradle
Line Adjustment
Chafe Protection
Adjusting under Load
Cleaning Up on Deck
Typhoon Omar
Biggest Concerns

Richard Le Quesne

The Meaning of Seamanship
Heavy Weather Tactics
What to Learn

Safety Issues

Dinghy Seamanship

Safety

Staying in the Boat
Keeping Upright
Righting a Swamped Boat
Preparing for the Worst
Avoiding Collisions
Running at Night
Nantucket Fog

Small Boat Handling

Rowing and Sculling
Outboard Basics
Shallow Water
Choosing the Right Course
Broaching
Anchor Out?
Rough Docks

Kids and Dinghies
Taking the Dinghy through Surf

Picking the Right Set
Hard Dink Design
Powered Inflatables
Bottom Contour
Viewing Angle
Technique
Jalapa, Mexico
Marquesan Surfmanship
The Polynesian Technique
Beach Break
Just-in-Case Preparations

Towing

Design Consideration
Towing Power
Towing Downwind
Towing Rules
The Bridle
Hard Bottom Inflatables
How Far Astern Do You Tow?

Under Power

Design Issues

Propeller Action
Prop/Rudder Relationship

Maneuvering Characteristics

Pivot Point
Turning Radius
Stern Swing
Center of Lateral Resistance
Sideways Drift
Downwind Drift Rate
Head-to-Wind Station Holding
Stern Walk
How Fast Can You Stop?

Techniques Under Power

Rotating
Using the Wind to Turn
Backwards
Steering in Reverse
Tight Channels
Practice
Pre-Planning

Preparing to Dock

Types of Docklines
Rigging
Throwing Techniques
Cleats or Winches?
Proper Cleating
Bow and Stern Lines
Spring Lines
Breast Line
Line Handlers Ashore
Which Lines First?
Controlling Lines under Load
Fenders

Docking

Stern Torque
Bow or Stern First?
Wind Pushing On
Wind Pushing Off
Using Current
Between other Boats
Rafting
Against Pilings
Between Pilings
Prop Wash Against the Rudder

Getting Off the Dock

Short-Handed Tips
Springing Off
Rotating Direction On the Dock
Using an Anchor

Mooring Mediterranean-Style

Med Moor Preparation
Anchor Selection
Rigging a Trip Line
Backing Tactics
Clear Communication
Securing the Stern

The Dinghy as a Tug

Dink Alongside
Towing
Steering
Stopping
Inflatables with Large Engines


Weather

What to Learn

Analyzing Risk Factors
Bora Bora to Suvorov
Pattern Recognition
Using the Internet
Air Masses
Three-Dimensional Atmosphere
Surface Lows
Surface Highs
New Zealand to New Caledonia
Frontal Boundaries
Wind Issues
500mb Weather

Staying Ahead of the Curve

Navigational Constraints
Coastal Passages
Picking Your Window
Revolving Storms
Using the Barometer in the Tropics
Storms which Change Structure
Secondary Lows
Baroclinic Storms

Tactics
Bermuda to Newport

St. David’s Harbor
Ready to Roll
En Route
Gulf Stream Crossing
Into Cold Water


Storm Tactics

What Is Heavy Weather?
Preparing For the Worst

Chain Reactions
Tactics

If You Are Caught

Weather Analysis
On Deck
Below
Crew Duties

John Lawler

Pre-Departure Preparations
Standing Orders
In Heavy Going
What to Learn

Emergencies

Rigging Failure

Checking the Rig
Fast Reaction Can Save Your Spar
Carry Spares
Emergency Rigging
Wire Cutters
Dismasting

The Jury Rig

Safety Precautions

Running Aground

Tidal State
When the Water Level Drops
Breaking Free

Exposed Strandings

Hull Material
Keel Shape
Super Structure
Displacement
The Decision-Making Process
Tidal Factors
Maintaining Watertight Integrity
Weather Impact
Lightening the Boat
Increasing Heel
Salvage Equipment
Special Equipment for Coral
Pagan Lee
Arion III

Legal Issues
Salvage with Outside Assistance

Towing Bridles
Dealing with Obstructions
Breaches in the Hull
Moonshadow

Towing

Towing Bridles
Shock Absorbers under Tow
Communication with the Tow Boat
Picking the Right Speed to Tow
Tow Length
Towing in Close Quarters
Keep Propellers Clear
Safety Issues
Using Anchor Windlasses
Steering the Towed Boat

Steering Failure

Emergency Tillers
Rudder Control Lines
Bent Rudder Shaft
The Right Tools
Unorthodox Approaches
Rudder Loss

Rigging a Sweep

Rudder Failure
Building the Sweep
Rigging Details

Hull Damage
Major Leaks
Fire

Reducing Fire Hazards
If You Smell Smoke
Using Fire Extinguishers

Overboard

Personal Gear
Man-Overboard Procedure
Quick Stop
Using a LifeSling
Bringing the Victim Aboard

If You’re In the Water

Ted Sierks
1991 Halloween Storm
Peter Noreng
The Search Process
"The Longest Night of My Life"
The Hawaiian Shirt
Lessons from the Rescue
Search Times
Visibility in the Water
Lifejackets
GPS Position
Accidents Happen

Hypothermia

Keep On Your Clothing
Heat-Lessening Posture
Swim or Float?
Thermal Protection
Recovery
Staying Alive In the Water

Prop Fouls

Clearing a Foul

Abandon-Ship Preparation

Abandon-Ship Drill

Abandon-Ship Supplies

Short Term
Medium Term
Long Term
Miscellaneous Gear

Maintenance

Repair Rules

Look for the Simple Answer
Take Your Time
When to Start Disassembly
Use Judicious Force

What to Learn

Electrics
Pumps
Diesels
Refrigeration
Mast Tuning
Basic Sail Repair

The Tool Kit

Basic Kit
Intermediate Kit
Complete Kit
Special Tools
Welding and Brazing

Don’t Sail on Fridays

Water in the Engine
The Mother of All Injector Battles
Possible Sources of Water in the Engine
What to Do if the Engine Floods
Stuck Injectors
Change the Oil

Hamish and Kate Laird

Petermann Island, Antarctica
The Meaning of Seamanship
Design Philosophy
Preparation
Maintenance
Pre-Passage
At Sea
Navigation

Practical Seamanship

Seamanship as an Art Form

Index


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