All boaters need to have a repertoire of reliable knots and splices they can call upon in many situations, both on board and at the dockside. This handy pocket guide, part of the bestselling Reeds Skipper's Handbook series, is a quick aide memoire for experienced sailors, but also provides novice sailors with all they need to know to master the most useful knots and splices they will need on a regular basis when going to sea. Each knot gets a double page spread with a clear photograph showing what the finished knot should look like, and step-by-step diagrams accompanied by straightforward instructions about how to tie it. Helpful text also describes each knot's use, when and why to use it, how strong it is, how quickly it can be tied (and untied), and what type and thickness of rope can be used to tie it with. This is the perfect pocket companion.

This tale of exploration and adventure is a warm account of the people and places around the waters of Southern Massachusetts.

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.

"I know you'll want to read more after you finish Sailing a Serious Ocean. And be warned, you'll very likely want to sail with John, perhaps across an ocean." -- DALLAS MURPHY, AUTHOR OF ROUNDING THE HORN After sailing 300,000 miles and weathering dozens of storms in all the world's oceans, John Kretschmer has plenty of stories and advice to share. John's offshore training passages sell out a year in advance and his entertaining presentations are popular at boat shows and yacht clubs all over the English speaking world. John's talent for storytelling enchants his audience as it soaks up the lessons he learned during his oftenchallengingvoyages. Now you can take a seat next to John--at a lesser cost--and get the knowledge you need to fulfill your own dream of blue-water adventure. In Sailing a Serious Ocean, John tells you what to expect when sailing the oceans and shows how to sail safely across them. His tales of storm encounters and other examples of extreme seamanship will help you prepare for your journey and give you confidence to handle any situation-even heavy weather. Through his personal stories, John will guide you through the whole process of choosing the right boat, outfitting with the right gear,planning your route, navigating the ocean, and understanding the nuances of life at sea. Our oceans are beautiful yet unpredictable-water that is at one moment a natural mirror for the glowing sun can turn into a foamy, raging wall of fury. John knows our oceans, and he is one of the best teachers of taming and enjoying them. Before you set off across the big blue, turn to John for his inspirational stories and hard-learned advice and discover the serious sailor in you.

In 1935, at the height of the Great Depression, two Canadian Inuit fur trappers ordered the largest private sailing ship ever delivered to be used in transporting their annual catch of fur to Herschel Island on the MacKenzie Delta in exchange for the supplies that they needed to survive another winter hundreds of miles north of the Arctic Circle. Three times she did not make it into port in time and was frozen solid into the ice. This is the story of one of the most historic ships in Canada, who under three owners faced many challenges including; holding land at the entrance of the fabled NorthWest Passage to protect Canadian Arctic Sovereignty, was used in sail-training for Inuit, surveyed the controversial B.C./Alaska border and was chartered to search for mermaids off of the Aleutian Islands. North Star of Herschel Island is now a familiar sight on the Victoria, B.C. waterfront and a regular participant in Classic Boat and Tall Ship Festivals. In 2005 she represented her country as the Canadian GoodWill Ambassador in an international gathering of Tall Ships. This is the true story of a remarkable ship and the people who have known and loved her.

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.

The definitive guide from the world's best-known sailboat maintenance expert.

"Don Caseys Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual" combines six core volumes into a single, utterly dependable resource that answers every frequent question, explains every major system, and helps you keep your boat and its components shipshape..

More than 2,500 clear and detailed illustrations guide you step by step through every procedure. Caseys technical virtuosity, his user-friendly explanations, and Peter Compton's diesel engine expertise make even the more complicated repairs and improvements easy to understand. This must-have guide saves you time, money, and grief as you learn the fastest, easiest, most effective ways to: . . Evaluate the condition of your boat or one youre about to purchase. Repair structural damage to your fiberglass sailboat. Improve or repair your sailboats electrical system. Troubleshoot, maintain, and repair your boats diesel engine. Put a professional-looking finish on your boats hull, deck, spars, wood, and trim. Make and repair sails, sail covers, dodgers, awnings, sailbags, and bimini tops. .

"Astoundingly clear text and line drawing illustrations. The reader can almost feel the hand-holding this book provides through each step of a repair.""Dockside,"

Don Casey is the author of the universally praised "This Old Boat," which has helped tens of thousands of boatowners turn their rundown production boats into first-class yachts. A regular contributor to "SAIL" and "Good Old Boat" magazines, he combines more than three decades of sailing, an innate curiosity, a knack for clarity, and an eye for the telling detail to deliver reliable expertise. He andhis wife, Olga, cruise the Caribbean aboard their 35-year-old, much-modified Allied Seawind..

Boating Essentials references everything a boater needs to know about boating laws, safe operation of water craft (including boats, sailboats and jet skis), useful knots, navigation, signals, weather, boating hazards and emergency first aid. An indispensable reference, it is the perfect companion to have on hand whenever you are on the water. Made in the USA.

The ideal reference book for anyone following the RYA Day Skipper course. With a refreshingly practical approach, illustrated throughout with clear diagrams, worked examples and colour photography, this 4th edition covers all the theory and practical aspects of the RYA Day Skipper Certificate. Fully updated in line with the syllabus, and taking in new technology and navigation techniques (such as thermal imaging and radar), developments in yacht design and multihulls, this is a clear and comprehensive manual for anyone taking the Day Skipper exam or intending to make coastal passages in a small boat, covering: - seamanship - safety equipment - preventing collisions at sea - navigation and chart work - tides and tidal streams - pilotage and passage planning - weather - engine operation and maintenance - VHF radio procedures By the same author as the highly successful Yachtmaster for Sail and Power, this lively, helpful guide is the perfect companion to the course, whether for sail or power.

A concise guide to coping with any medical emergency?while at sea

Accidents that happen aboard a boat occur miles from professional medical help. First Aid Companion is a life-saving guide for dealing with any onboard medical emergency?including drowning, hypothermia, head injuries, heatstroke, fractures, and burns. Offering clear, step-by-step treatments that anyone can follow, this practical guide will vastly improve any victim's chances of survival.Includes treatment for seasickness, immersion, external bleeding, chest pains, and seizures

As vital as a first aid kit, this practical, splash-resistant guide will allow anyone onboard to take control of even the most serious medical emergency that occurs while at sea.

Anyone who contemplates any onboard do-it-yourself work should have this book at his or her elbow.--"Cruising World,"

This book reduces a boat to its most rudimentary parts in simple drawings and clear explanations. Fascinating to read, its a perfect teaching tool.--"Ocean Navigator,"

Whether youre a new mariner or a lifetime veteran, "How Boat Things Work" is a resource you cant afford to be without. With intricate two-color cutaway drawings of eighty different systems and devices, as well as detailed explanations of how theyre assembled, how they work, and how they can go wrong, this book covers every primary component of your boat's inner workings. .

This guided tour under the hood of your sailboat or powerboat includes: . . Engines, transmissions, bearings, stuffing boxes, propellers. Steering systems, autopilots, windvanes, compasses. Rigging, splicing, line handling, block and tackle, sail controls. Anchors and windlasses. DC and AC electrical systems. Pumps, toilets, seacocks, freshwater systems. .

Charlie Wing earned a Ph.D. in oceanography from MIT. Wing lived aboard a cruising sailboat for six years, during which he obtained his U.S. Coast Guard Captains license. He is also the author of "Get Your Captain's License," "Boatowner's Illustrated Electrical Handbook," "The One-Minute Guide to the Nautical Rules of the Road," and other boating titles..

Stress-Free Engine Maintenance is an accessible and practical guide to understanding what is going on with your boat's engine, how to look after it, spotting the signs when all is not well, and how to fix it. Learn how to change a filter and impeller, how to ensure the engine doesn't overheat, and much more. This visual and jargon-free book covers all the essentials for looking after your engine, in one place, including: - Basic principles of how an engine works - Fuel, cooling and air systems - Engine electrical systems - Gearboxes and drives - Checklists (e.g. before starting and once running) - Most common causes of breakdown - Troubleshooting Like the other titles in Duncan Wells' bestselling 'Stress-Free' series, the information is presented in an accessible, manageable way, with the use of diagrams, quick reference tables, box features, QR videos, clear explanations, top tips and checklists, making maintenance and basic repair of your engine straightforward, and with minimum stress. There are also plenty of amusing anecdotes and useful lessons learned. If you find the prospect of fixing anything to do with the engine daunting, then this is the book for you. Stress-Free Engine Maintenance is a key addition to any boat's bookshelf, ready to remind the skipper how to deal with problems and keep everything running smoothly.

This is a must-have compact travel guide to the Canal du Midi, a picturesque waterway in Southern France, popular for boating trips and holidays. The Canal du Midi is recognised as one of the most beautiful and popular waterways in Europe. It is an UNESCO world heritage site and attracts many visitors every year. It's widely regarded as the perfect boating region for wine tasting, sightseeing at medieval villages and cities, and visiting cafes and restaurants. This up-to-date, comprehensive travel guide covers all the practical information and sightseeing opportunities boaters need to know about during their holiday on the canal, including: -Highlights and itinerary for Canal du Midi trips for easy planning -Insider travel tips for your boating holiday: where to stop off, sightseeing highlights, recommended restaurants to visit along the way -Essential practical nautical information such as how and where to charter, locks, bridges and berths and so on -Concise English-French dictionary with the most important vocab -Fantastic photography and useful route maps

Canals of Britain is the most comprehensive and absorbing survey of Britain's canal network ever published. It provides a fascinating insight into the linked up waterways as well as the isolated cuts and quiet waters which may not be fully navigable by larger craft. Infinitely varied, it passes picturesque open countryside, wild moorland, coastal harbours, historic industrial buildings, modern city centres, canalside public houses and abundant wildlife. Stuart Fisher looks at every aspect of the canals - their construction, rich history, stunning scenery, heritage, incredible engineering, impressive architecture and even their associated folklore, wildlife and art. Enticing photographs give a flavour of each place and places of interest close to the canals are included. Each canal is intricately mapped. For those who are keen to explore that little bit further, the book goes to points beyond which others usually turn back, with information on little-known parts of the system, offering a new insight into this country's unique, surprising and beautiful canal network. Attractive, inspiring and also a practical guide, Canals of Britain has proved very popular with walkers, cyclists, narrowboaters, canoeists, kayakers and others wanting to get the most out of Britain's canals. This fourth edition has been thoroughly revised to reflect the ever-changing landscape of Britain's canals, and includes many new colour photographs to help bring them to life.

"Everything creaks and bends in heavy seas - what will not bend will simply snap. So many times I wondered how much load we could carry in a powerful storm without breaking apart. If we flooded any faster I would drown in seconds." Patrick Dixon spent years working as a doctor at University College Hospital, while his wife Sheila was a magistrate - high-pressure careers that demanded long hours away from their home, family and passion for sailing. It is a frustrating story many occasional sailors can relate to, but unlike most, Patrick and Sheila realised early enough that they could only bend so far before something snapped, they could only take on so much before they drowned. This is their story of how they made changes (some more challenging than others) that they knows other sailors could make too, regardless of where they are at the moment - how they changed their priorities but managed to sustain a new career that fitted in around life rather than the other way round. It is also the story of their personal journey, both physically (across the Atlantic and to little-visited corners of the Mediterranean) and metaphorically - how a doctor who treated cancer patients coped with a partner facing the same battle. Neither of them wanted to let that flood things either. Through their personal story, with plenty of mishaps that led to insights (both about sailing and life in general), and encounters that turned into opportunities, Patrick and Sheila explore the importance of prioritising the right things in life, and the simple benefits of travel. The book is packed with inspiring but practical advice for all those who have salt in the blood.

A book to take with you when you go sailing or power-boating, in case a medical emergency or other medical problem arises. Emphasizes head trauma and management of orthopedic injuries, seasickness and issues relating to cold injuries ("cockpit foot"), illness after exposure after leaving a port-of-call., burns (including exposure to the sun and/or boiling water in the galley). All these and more are discussed with treatment options included. It's a must-have book for the serious (or weekend) sailor or power-boater.

The essential onboard guide to staying afloat and alive at sea-when you run into trouble

Written by a respected marine journalist with over thirty years of boating experience, this practical guide offers immediate solutions to any number of problems encountered while at sea. Addressing such dangers as fire; taking on water; running aground; losing power, mast, or rudder; man overboard; becoming lost; and extreme weather, the book offers clear guidance on gaining control of the situation, along with easily understandable photos and illustrations. Other key

safety measures, such as having a good understanding of first aid, the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS), flares and signals, are also described in detail. This handy, waterproof guide would complete any boat's equipment list.Detailed advice for most emergency situationsA must-have reference for all sailors, power boaters, and motor boatersThe author of numerous books in Norwegian, John Winge has cruised all over world

As important as a first-aid kit, "Emergency Companion" is any boater's

first line of defense against managing any mishap or potential disaster at sea.

Authoritative, practical, and hands-on information on reading and relying on electronic and paper nautical charts

The classic "How to Read a Nautical Chart" explains every aspect of electronic and paper nautical charts: how a chart is assembled, how to gauge the accuracy of chart data, how to read charts created by other governments, how to use information such as scale, projection technique and datum that every chart contains; how not to get fooled or run aground by overzooming. Nigel Calder teaches you how to squeeze every ounce of information out of a nautical chart (on your GPS, chartplotter, or nav station) and understand the limits of accuracy for all charts, paper and electronic, raster and vector. This much-awaited second edition addresses the changes in the world of electronic charting, integrated onboard navigation systems, as well as radar overlays and AIS and their interfacing with charts. A new chapter on the Wiki Revolution explores the mechanisms allowing you to incorporate user-generated content into navigational products and share this content with others--harnessing a user-base never before possible. Calder also explores how 3D-technology and real-time depth and weather information is creating interactive charting capacities that are fundamentally changing how we navigate. Calder's unique, practical insights will help you to navigate safely for years to come.

Anyone going to sea needs an understanding of maritime flags, and this handy book is the perfect pocket-sized reference. Concise but comprehensive, it includes: - National maritime flags - Special ensigns, jacks, burgees, official and defence flags, and code flags - Yacht club burgees - Signal flags (including naval codes, distress signals and racing codes) - Flag etiquette and usage (from positions to salutes to timing and more) Expanded and updated for its third edition, the book now includes masthead burgees, as well as new advice on changing rules in European waters and beyond, and more information on the use of and etiquette surrounding local, regional and other unofficial flags. If you have ever put to sea wondering about the different types of flag, how they are made up, and the dos and don'ts as well as traditions and myths of flying flags then this will be both a fascinating read and a useful on-board guide.

Through the French Canals has probably tempted more people to explore the beautiful waterways of France than any other book. First published in 1970, it's been the key authoritative title on cruising the French canals ever since. The revised new edition is the essential comprehensive planning guide for anyone wanting to cruise through the French waterways or take their boat from the English Channel through to the Mediterranean via the inland route. It includes: over 50 routes fully described and illustrated, with positions of locks, towns and villages through routes from the English Channel and Atlantic to the Mediterranean, plus distances, and assessment of suitable boats for the canals. It also provides dimensions of locks and operating times, details of bridge heights, canal depths, fuelling points, waterway signals, a guide to the cost of living, shopping and stores, sources of weather information, haltes for overnight stops, and ports de plaisance. As well as new photography, the new edition is updated throughout with new information on local facilities, new haltes and ports de plaisance, new VNF License fees, revisions to cruise hire companies, updated references to holding tanks, the availability of diesel and costs of cruising and much more.