Mastering Navigation at Sea: De-Mystifying Navigation for the Cruising Skipper (Skipper's Library)

Book Synopsis: A lot of people are drawn to the sea, and for good reason – it's the world's last wild and largely unspoilt wilderness. But to properly enjoy the sea, and to do so safely, you must have the skills, knowledge and confidence to plan thoroughly and stay one step ahead of the game.This book is thoughtfully written to help yachtsmen do just that. It's not another navigation textbook; it's written by a mariner for other mariners. It's well-informed, easy to read and honest about the author's triumphs and disasters over a lifetime's navigating.He has a unique perspective having navigated in many parts of the world from high up on the bridge of a warship, close to the water in a cruising yacht and at depth in a submarine. After his navy career he was Chief Executive of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), often dealing with the consequences of poor navigation.The author brings the subject to life in a book that is designed to help yachtsmen refresh their knowledge of, and their enthusiasm for, the timeless skills of navigation.It is packed with hundreds of illustrations – colour photographs, charts, diagrams and tables – making the text easy to understand. The book is part of Fernhurst Books' Skipper's Library series of practical books for the cruising sailor.

Table of Contents:

Paul Boissier, Foreword, Introduction

PART ONE: THE THEORY:

1. The World, & How It's Portrayed
2. Charts
3. Position, Angles, Distance & Speed
4. Movement Of Water: The Height Of Tide
5. Movement Of Water: Tidal Streams & Currents
6. The Fix
7. Visual Aids To Navigation: Buoys, Rocks & Wrecks
8. Radar & Radio Aids To Navigation
9. Navigation Equipment
10. Reference Books
11. A Few Thoughts About Safe Navigation
12. A Few Tricks Of The Trade

PART TWO: TYPES OF NAVIGATION:

13. Pilotage
14. Blind Pilotage
15. Anchoring
16. Coastal Navigation
17. Offshore Navigation

PART THREE: IN PRACTICE:

18. Passage Planning
19. Lymington To Hurst Castle
20. Hurst Castle To The Needles
21. The Needles To The Casquets
22. Casquets To The Little Russel
23. Little Russel Into St Peter Port
24. Some Cautionary Tales

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