For any sea-farer, splicing rope is an essential skill. But the traditional 3-strand rope is fast disappearing. So how do you splice braided ropE? This is the definitive pocket-sized guide to all rope splicing techniques. Most of the techniques are quite easy to master - and also fun to do. See why splices are better - and stronger - than knots or shackles for joining or shortening rope, and follow the step-by-step photography and clear instructions to find out exactly how to splice efficiently.

In 1968, nine sailors set off on the most daring race ever held: to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe nonstop. It was a feat that had never been accomplished and one that would forever change the face of sailing. Ten months later, only one of the nine men would cross the finish line and earn fame, wealth, and glory. For the others, the reward was madness, failure, and death.

In this extraordinary book, Peter Nichols chronicles a contest of the individual against the sea, waged at a time before cell phones, satellite dishes, and electronic positioning systems. A Voyage for Madmen is a tale of sailors driven by their own dreams and demons, of horrific storms in the Southern Ocean, and of those riveting moments when a split-second decision means the difference between life and death.

Following the pioneering work of the legendary Adlard Coles, the book was passed to Captain John Coote RN in 1982. In his comparatively short, ten-year tenure, John Coote expanded the coverage from the English coast to include northern France. He also applied a characteristic humour to the shoreside aspect of the text which has been enthusiastically adopted by Tom Cunliffe, the present and third compiler of this unique work. This is a revised 8th edition published by Imray under Cunliffe's hand. 'Shell' is more than a harbour guide. It also provides a reassuring hand on the shoulder for Channel navigation, with useful passage notes gleaned from the compiler's personal experience of more than 40 years running the tides and finding the eddies. His frank remarks regarding harbour and recreational facilities have long been relied upon by sailors of all generations and nationalities. While leading to some enlightening secrets, they have been known to cause landlords whose establishments fall short of the required standard to lose the will to live. Working with harbourmasters and a dedicated group of carefully selected yachtsmen and women, Cunliffe has kept this pilot as up to date as is humanly possible. More than being technically sound, which is to be expected from a Yachtmaster Examiner, the book is also a thoroughly enjoyable read. Imray Digital Charts: Free mobile download A voucher code to download the relevant Imray digital charts into Imray Navigator (our app for iOS and Android) is included with the paper edition of this book.

Diesel engines are installed in just about every yacht and in most large motorboats and, while professional help is often at hand, sometimes it is not. Indeed, engine failure is one of the most frequent causes of RNLI launches. This book explains how to prevent problems, troubleshoot and make repairs using safe techniques. It could also help you save money on expensive bills for yard work you could do yourself. Diesels Afloat covers everything from how the diesel engine works to engine electrics, from fault finding to out of season layup. With this guide and your engine's manual you can get the best performance from your boat's engine and be confident in dealing with any problem. The book covers the syllabus of the RYA Diesel Engine and MCA Approved Engine (AEC-1) courses. This edition has been thoroughly modernised and updated by former course lecturer and currently chief engineer on merchant ships, Callum Smedley.

The Reeds Looseleaf Update Pack provides all the information required to navigate Atlantic coastal waters around the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, and the entire European coastline from the tip of Denmark right down to Gibraltar, the Azores and Madeira. A versatile system that combines almanac and pilotage information in a convenient looseleaf form, the Looseleaf Almanac is inserted into a durable binder which stays open on the chart table and lets the user tailor the Almanac to their needs by complementing the contents supplied with whatever information they may want to add or take out. The Update Pack 2022 is for those who have bought the Reeds Looseleaf Almanac in previous years and just want to update their information rather than buy the binder again. Includes 700 harbour chartlets, Harbour facilities, Tide tables and streams, 7,500 waypoints, International codes and flags, Weather, Distance tables, Passage advice, Area planning charts, Rules of the road, Radio information, Communications, Safety, Documentation and customs. The 2022 edition is updated throughout, containing over 45,000 changes. Also includes a free Reeds Marina Guide. Also available: free supplements of up-to-date navigation changes from January to June at: www.reedsnauticalalmanac.co.uk "There are some things I would not go to sea without - Reeds is one of them" Sir Chay Blyth "The big, bold, extravagantly comprehensive king of Almanacs" Yachting World "On every cruising boat you'll find one of these. Don't start your engines without it" Motor Boat and Yachting "The bible of almanacs" Classic Boat

The Reeds Eastern Almanac covers the UK east coast from Ramsgate to Cape Wrath including the Shetland and Orkney Islands, and from Niewport to Delfzjil and Helgoland. It is the complete guide for North Sea mariners, offering ready access to essential navigation information by virtue of its clear layout and user friendly format. Completely updated for 2022, topics include seamanship, pilotage, tide tables, safety procedures, navigation tips, radio, lights, waypoints, weather forecast information around UK and European waters, communications, Mayday and distress procedures. The large type and clear layout makes information easy to read even in adverse conditions. This handy volume is ideal for anyone cruising the North Sea. Includes a free Reeds Marina Guide. Also available: free supplements of up-to-date navigation changes from January to June at: www.reedsnauticalalmanac.co.uk 'There are some things I would not go to sea without - Reeds is one of them.' Sir Chay Blyth

The River Thames is simply a fantastic place to paddle your canoe, kayak or paddleboard, whether touring, training, racing, expeditioning or just 'bimbling'. From its early reaches in the Cotswold Hills, through the Home Counties into London and far out beyond into the estuary, the river's surroundings are remarkably varied and diverse, yet always attractive and engaging. If your mental image of the Thames depicts an urban sewer, be prepared to be amazed; the water is clean, the banks are invariably green and naturalists describe the river's ecosystems as a 'wildlife superhighway'. This natural beauty is equalled by the human story which the Thames narrates; from locks, gardens and parks to mansions, abbeys, castles and palaces, the paddler is continuously immersed in what MP John Burns famously called 'liquid history'. The riverine Arcadia of willow-draped banks, back channels and islands celebrated in Three Men in a Boat and The Wind in the Willows was not a myth, and it still exists.Is a paddler's guidebook to the Thames needed? Britain's best-known river might actually be the least-known by paddlers.The huge paddling population and numerous canoe clubs based along it belie a surprising fact; many of these paddlers aren't sure what is found up- and down-stream from their patch. In a river stretching 347km, this is both understandable and forgivable. However, there are other reasons for the relatively low numbers of paddlers encountered whilst enjoying the Thames. Information about where and how to launch is hard to come by, existing guides and media give the impression that the Thames is the preserve of powerboats and rowers, and finally, the perception often lingers that it isn't actually very attractive or interesting. This book sets out to redress these major omissions and misconceptions, and to reclaim John 'Rob Roy' MacGregor's river for paddlers.Mark Rainsley has spent three decades using paddlesport as a means of avoiding adulthood and responsibility. He is a fanatical paddler who has descended challenging whitewater rivers worldwide, and who is dedicated to exploring every nook and cranny of the UK's coast by sea kayak. He created the UK Rivers and UK Sea Kayak websites and is a prolific contributor to paddlesport magazines and other media.Mark authored other Pesda Press titles.

200 invaluable yachting tips only the pros know?in a pocket-sized format for onboard use

For every yachtsman who's dreamed of a mentor, in the form of a seasoned helmsman close at hand helping guide a vessel, this pocket reference from Yachting Monthly just may be the closest thing. With its refreshing approach to sailing and seamanship instruction, this handy guide gives yachtsmen of all experience levels essential tips on navigation, safety, weather, and boat handling as well as insights on life at sea. Each tip is illustrated with a color photograph or diagramIncludes tips on ropes and knotsOther titles by Cunliffe: "Celestial Navigation" and "Coastal and Offshore Navigation"

Filled with advice that yachtsmen pass on to fellow yachtsmen, and fathers pass on to their sons, this compact collection of sailing wisdom will help boat lovers and yachtsmen of every stripe improve and enjoy their outings at sea.

What does it take to win gold at the Olympic Games? How many years of hard work and dedication does it take to prepare for such a feat? How many disappointments do you have to endure on this journey?

Danielle Brittain has walked this journey over and over again – her two sons won Olympic gold for South Africa in rowing, all four of her sons have rowed at top levels, and she is currently the team doctor for the SA rowing team. Danielle has faced her own battles with cancer and then watched as her son battled Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during his Olympic training and overcame it and went on to win gold after his recovery in this high-performance sport.

The Olympic wins for the South African teams at the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics were iconic moments for South Africa and Brittain’s descriptions of what the wins meant for the individuals in the teams, their families, the coaching staff and ordinary South Africans demonstrates the power of sport to unite the country.

A rowing story, a family story, a cancer survival story, a South African story – and the story of a mother watching it all unfold.

In this first biography of David Henry Lewis, Ben Lowings examines his lifetime of adventure forensically yet sympathetically, and unlocks the secrets of his determination. This British-born New Zealander was the first person to sail a catamaran around the world, the first - in Ice Bird - to reach Antarctica solo under sail, and the first to make known to Westerners how ancient navigators reached - and could reach again - the Pacific islands. His many voyages resulted in thirteen books published and translated worldwide; many were bestsellers - We, the Navigators has not been out of print since first publication in 1972. David Lewis's achievements have been acknowledged with a series of awards, including that of Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. But the price of David Lewis's adventures had ultimately to be paid by others in the succession of families he created, then broke apart; and many of his actions brought him into conflict with the feelings of friends and contemporaries. We may legitimately ask 'was it really all worth it?' For the first time his six marriages are revealed, through more than a year of original research in Britain, Australia and New Zealand - including interviews with all surviving family members, as well as friends and fellow voyagers. Events thinly-sketched or omitted in his own writings, such as his father's own failings, are investigated. His kayaking, mountain-climbing and sailing were struggles all the more difficult because of a fractured backbone, shattered elbow and impaired vision. David Lewis's early years get the comprehensive documentation they deserve - in his own memoir he jumps straight from child to fully-fledged explorer. Inaccuracies are corrected in his tale of kayaking four hundred miles home from school. As playboy medical student, British paratrooper fighting in Normandy, and political activist in Palestine, Jamaica and London, he grappled with academic and colonial prejudice, and fought anti-Semitism and inequality; all is examined. As a general practitioner in the East End's impure 1950s air he worked where the new National Health Service was most needed. Professional frustrations and marital disappointments were not soothed by weekend sailing. He would join a pioneering single-handed yacht race to America in 1960, leaving his first daughter to find him on board in Plymouth to say farewell only at the last minute. In 1964 he would race again, but this time in a catamaran, and then, with Fiona, his new wife, and their daughters, girdle the earth in it. For the first time, their circumnavigation is described in part from Fiona's perspective. Media accounts and passages from his many books build up a picture of a consistently experimental, and utterly untypical, middle aged man. Every word in the Antarctic logbook of Ice Bird - scrawled with freezing hands - is closely compared with literary sources, National Geographic articles and his commercially successful book-length account. A new critical appreciation shows the white heat at the core of his being. He has abandoned his children again, and been drugged by ocean solitude. But in the act of writing he is earning his place among humanity. To hell with the frozen hands.

Wouldn't it be useful to be able to come up with an accurate weather forecast simply by reading the clouds? Well, with this book, you can! TV forecasts, online predictions and smartphone apps are all based on the same data - a number-crunched overview of how air pressure and temperature affects the weather over a large geographical area. But to get an idea of how the weather will develop for the precise spot where you're standing (or walking, sailing, golfing, fishing, etc) you don't need any equipment or a wifi connection - you just need to look up. This book will give you a great understanding of why clouds are symptoms of weather patterns, not causes. Highly practical, it shows you how by reading these signs in the sky and referring to the explanatory colour photos and diagrams, you will be able to tell exactly what those signs mean. After its very well received first edition, this second edition is revised and expanded, including plenty of new photos to cover every possible view of the sky. With this at-a-glance guide to the clouds anywhere in the world, on land or at sea, you will be able to predict the weather by recognising cloud types, shapes, colours and behaviour. Including a Foreword by Tom Cunliffe, writer, TV presenter and yachting instructor, this will be an invaluable companion for everyone who enjoys time spent outdoors.

A fully revised and expanded edition of the only resource you'll need for choosing, owning and maintaining a narrowboat. The UK has over 2000 miles of navigable canals and rivers which are home to an estimated 35,000 licensed boats. Although canal boats can look much the same to the novice, there are some very important differences to be aware of. If you're new to boating you have some important choices to make. This comprehensive book examines the options available to different types of boaters. From those who choose to live aboard their boats and constant cruisers to fair-weather cruisers, hire boating and share boat syndicates - each will need a different type of boat if they are to fully enjoy their time afloat. Packed with case studies and advice from real boaters with years of experience to share, this second edition has been thoroughly updated throughout and includes new information on liveaboard costs and considerations, eco-friendly boating options, shared ownership and tax-free boat building, as well as: - The cost of boating - Choosing the ideal boat for your boating profile - Buying a boat and the legalities of purchase - Choosing suitable internal fittings and features - Heating, lighting, toilets and hot water options - Boat electrics and solar power - Finding a mooring - Boating health and safety - Locks, swing-bridges and the boating 'highway code' - Boat maintenance - Boating etiquette and best practice

The Baltic was northern Europe's best kept secret - but word has got out to sailors from across the continent and beyond. The lively seaside towns, beautiful wild coastlines that stretch for miles, serene and secluded bays, remote islands, and friendly people are driving a boom in cruising and chartering. This is the perfect cruising guide for anyone who wants to explore the Baltic Sea, whether pottering around Denmark and Germany, crossing to Sweden or cruising further afield, into Eastern Europe. It includes suggested routes for trips of all lengths, from short trips in the Sly Firth or Flensburg Fjord suitable for those with less time or experience, to longer cruises to beautiful locations like Svendborg or Marstrand, visits to busy cities like Aarhus, Copenhagen and Stockholm, and more adventurous tours to islands like Anholt, Bornholm or Gotland. Lavishly illustrated with gorgeous photography, and as inspirational as it is practical, this guide covers all the best destinations to explore, and features navigation advice, including landmarks, lights, bearings, depths and approaches, as well as detailing local facilities and attractions.

Everything you wanted to know about the mysterious art of rigging but were afraid to ask.

"Rigging" covers every aspect of standing and running rigging on a boat, explaining the role of every part and how they influence eachother. Easy step-by-step guides explain how to choose and fit your equipment before going on to describe how to tune your rig to achieve better performance. Alternate configurations are examined and the bewildering array of lines simply explained. Where calculations are used they are kept easy and straightforward to understand.

Table of ContentsChapter 1 - Running RiggingChapter 2 - BackstayChapter 3 - Genoa SheetsChapter 4 - Genoa CarsChapter 5 - Main SheetChapter 6 - Afterguys and SheetsChapter 7 - Halyards and Reefing LinesChapter 8 - Standing RiggingChapter 9 - Spreaders and Mast TuningChapter 10 - Winches

Chris Stewart's sea-faring 'prequel' to Driving Over Lemons was launched into the hardback bestseller list in May, where it's been bobbing about happily ever since. Sort of Books plan to make this paperback plain sailing too. It will be published in the same format and price as his ever popular Spanish trilogy.

Key places featured include Sowerby Bridge, Wakefield, Castleford, Selby, Goole, Leeds, Bingley, Skipton, Burnley, Blackburn, Wigan, Leigh, Burscough and Liverpool.The Canal Companions have been chugging along 'the cut' for over thirty years; conveying facts and figures, insight and entertainment, wit and wisdom: from Brentford to Burscough, from Shardlow to Sharpness, from Tipton to Todmorden. All manner of folk have been encouraged to explore the inland waterways using these guides, which have become as much a part of tradition as their subject matter. Updated for 2022.

The long-awaited update of this best-selling pilot guide covering the whole spectacular North Brittany coast, the Channel Islands and the fascinating harbours on the west side of the Cherbourg peninsula. Packed with comprehensive pilotage and nautical information as well as suggestions of where to eat and what to do ashore: an authoritative guide designed to help you make the most of your visit to this fabulous area. It is enhanced with colour charts and detailed photography, including spectacular aerial shots of ports, harbours and anchorages. Share Peter & Jane's joy of cruising in this fabulous area which has enabled them to create a text which will inspire and inform you and help you love the area as much as they do. Reading Peter's wonderful prose in advance of your cruise you will almost feel you are there already. When you do make landfall, you will be reassured by the pilotage descriptions which will give you the confidence to tackle even the most challenging approaches. And once you have berthed you will know where to head for that celebratory meal of incomparable French cuisine. And that's only the start of your cruise! This third edition is fully updated for publication and further updates are provided every Spring on the Fernhurst Books' website.

'It would be hard to imagine a more thoughtful, intelligent and companionable person to go to sea with than Paul Heiney.' Bill Bryson 'High comedy on the high seas. Informative and warm and freezing. It's quite a combination.' Griff Rhys Jones The writer and broadcaster Paul Heiney set sail from the east coast of England bound for Iceland, propelled by a desire to breathe the cool, clear air of the high latitudes, and to follow in the wake of generations of sailors who have made this often treacherous journey since the 13th century. In almost every harbour he tripped over maritime history and anecdote, and came face to face with his own past as he sailed north along his childhood coastline of east Yorkshire towards the Arctic Circle. But there was one major thing missing from this voyage - the sight of puffins. They are remarkable birds, uplifting as a ray of sunshine after a storm. To see them and share their waters was also part of Heiney's ambition. Imagine then his disappointment when, first, no puffins appeared off the Farne Islands, then none to be seen on puffin hotspots like Orkney. When he failed to see puffins on Iceland, Heiney still held out the hope that he would see the 'joker of the seas'. With inspiring travel writing, social and maritime history, and good-humoured reflections on his sailing journey, Heiney brings us this delightful book - a love letter to the puffin, to Iceland and the north, and to the pure pleasure of being at sea.

"Inshore Navigation" is a teaching system designed for the newcomer to navigation and pilotage. Tom Cunliffe understands the problems and misconceptions of people learning to navigate at sea. As a result his book goes straight to the heart of each topic and concentrates on what the beginner really needs to know when out on the water.

The object of this book is to give you enough knowledge to be able to navigate simply and safely on short inshore passages. The logical way to begin cruising is to make day sails in reasonable weather and steer clear of night passage making until you have gained a little confidence - there is enough information here to enable you to do just that.

"Inshore Navigation" is structured so as to help you get on the water as soon as possible and stay out of trouble as you learn the necessities. All the essential navigational concepts are covered, so that when you feel your sea going experience is sufficient you will be building on a solid foundation as you move into the greater depth of detail required for coastal and offshore navigation.

Your best teacher is yourself. The rudiments are contained with "Inshore Navigation," but the rest is up to you.

Unless you have unbeatable boatspeed, tactics are vital to winning sailboat races. Multi-champion, Nick Craig, shows you how to develop a strategy and what tactics to adopt on every leg and at every mark of the course. His first book, Helming to Win, was described as "original, thought provoking... like no other that has gone before it". He now turns his highly analytical mind to the subject of tactics. He discusses the inputs into strategy, starting and the race plan (going through each leg in turn). Nick then tackles mark tactics, covering every different type of mark, and fleet tactics on every leg of the course. He finally focusses on boat-to-boat tactics, again on every leg of the course. In each situation he covers attacking and defensive tactics, either to get ahead or make sure you stay ahead. Non-spinnaker, symmetrical spinnaker and asymmetric dinghies are all covered because Nick has won world or national championships in each of these types of boats. Having read Nick's first book many said that it had transformed the way they sailed. This book will have the same effect on your tactics and should see you moving up the leaderboard.

This quick reference guide contains all the navigational information and practical seamanship needed by skippers or crew. The accessible and concise presentation makes it ideal for instant reference at sea, and its splashproof pages and spiral binding enable it to stand up to the demanding marine environment. Invaluable for experienced sailors as an aide-memoire, as well as for beginners and RYA students, it covers a wide range of topics such as seamarks, buoyage, pilotage, lights, boat handling, anchoring and mooring, ropes & knots, heavy weather sailing, man overboard, grounding, fire aboard, distress signals and VHF radio. 'A brilliant aide-memoire or instant revision for exams' Kelvin Hughes 'An ideal companion above or below decks' Practical Boat Owner 'A handy reference...one of the most comprehensive guides that I have seen' Lifeboat 'A lot of good information...a useful aid to have on board' Gaffers Log

This is a complete introduction to open canoeing. Canoeing and kayaking have topped the UK charts for water sports since 2003, matched only by angling (British Marine Federation survey). Over one million people went canoeing in 2008. This is the first complete introduction to open canoeing in seven years, the most up-to-date book about how to get into this growing sport. "Discover Canoeing" is a journey through the sport of open canoeing, its history, the modern canoe and the future. James Weir gives a fresh approach to one of the oldest forms of transport known to man. Colour photos and sequences show each of the techniques stage by stage, from getting afloat on calm waters, paddling with a partner, going on a trip or expedition, navigating rapids and righting yourself with an Eskimo roll after a capsize. Full of tips, tricks and know-how, this book has all you need to know to paddle your own canoe, stay safe and have fun.