For any sailor, in a yacht or motorboat, the passage from one place to another is relatively easy, particularly with modern navigation equipment. What can be more of a challenge (and a potential source of anxiety for skipper and crew) is the start and end of a passage how to leave and arrive safely, particularly if its a cramped marina or crowded anchorage. In Illustrated Seamanship, Ivar Dedekam takes you through the techniques required to achieve a safe departure and arrival. Starting with the fundamentals of ropework he then moves on to manoeuvring, berthing, making fast and then leaving. All types of berthing are covered from coming alongside, stern to, bow to, between finger pontoons and using piles and buoys. There is advice about dealing with different wind and current directions as well as using springs. Ivar then turns to anchoring and offers guidance on setting and weighing anchor in many different circumstances: under sail and under power, using one or two anchors and coping with changes in wind and tide while anchored. You probably wont experience all the scenarios that Ivar so carefully describes, but you will certainly come across quite a few. Knowing what to do when a new situation comes up could be invaluable, increasing your confidence and leading to greater enjoyment and use of your boat. With over 500 diagrams, this slim volume is a perfect reminder of frequently used techniques and could be your get-out-of-jail card when a new circumstance arises. This new edition has an improved layout and the eBooks functionality has been improved significantly.
Contents; Introduction; ROPEWORK: The basics, Clove hitch, Bowline,
Sheet bend, Reef knot, Stopper knots, Rolling hitch, Coiling ropes, Cleats,
Whipping, Splicing, Lashing, Winch handling, Making fast on a bollard,
Swigging (sweating), Various useful knots; BOAT HANDLING: The basics, The
propeller, The rudder, Wind impact on the hull, The boats turning circle,
Getting to know your boat, Turning in confined spaces, Coming alongside,
Making fast the mooring lines, Leaving the berth, Using springs, More about
mooring, Winding ship, Other types of mooring, Tides & currents, Bow
thruster, Day shapes for various vessels; ANCHORING: The basics, Anchor rode,
Ground tackle, Foredeck arrangement, Anchoring techniques, Snubbers, Anchor
chums, Weighing anchor, Using two bow anchors, Using a dinghy, Using a bow or
stern anchor, Anchoring examples, Miscellany, Summary.
Ivar Dedekam, of Dedekam Design, specialises in uniquely illustrated nautical manuals which are easy to understand and remember. Ivar has been sailing for over 40 years and has logged more than 50,000 nautical miles, including three Atlantic crossings. His book Illustrated Sail & Rig Tuning is an international success and has been published in 19 languages.
