Skipper's Practical Handbook

This book covers the practical syllabus a student skipper needs to pass advanced sailing exams. It is also designed to be kept on board as a coaching guide covering common situations that may trip up even the most experienced skipper. It covers the practical side of yacht cruising: how to be a better skipper, berth the yacht, handle under sail, recover an MOB, navigate and make and carry out safe and efficient passages.

* All the key technical topics for the sailor with essential data in an accessible format
* Perfect for exam preparation with revision and test sections
* Illustrated with charts and diagrams
* Ideal on-board reference
* Your ideal companion for a happy, safe boat

Preface.

Introduction.

Safety Brief.

Skippering Style.

Delegation.

Clear communication.

Running a happy boat.

Power Handling.

Windage exercise.

Prop Kick or Walk exercise.

Prop Wash exercise.

Pivot Point exercise.

Slide exercise.

Minimum Operating Speed (MOS) exercise.

Turning in a confi ned space.

Power turn game.

Coming alongside.

Alongside game 1.

Alongside game 2.

Single line mooring.

Pile mooring game.

Handling Under Sail.

Sail shape.

Sail twist.

Trimming the genoa.

Rudderless sailing.

Trimming the main.

Sailing in and out of harbour.

Mooring buoy: exercise.

Fender retrieval exercise.

Man Over Board.

Step A: start the engine.

Step B: crash tack and hove-to.

Step C: use the engine and leeway.

Step D: recover the mob.

Alternative method.

Navigation.

Navigation exercise A: good visibility.

Navigation exercise B: blind navigation.

Navigation exercise C: fi nding unlit marks in the dark.

Passage Planning.

Passage planning: exercise.