Category Archives: SEAMANSHIP

Crossing the bar

Posted on July 31, 2011 by admin

Yachtsmen would have stayed at sea, but fishermen with full holds took the chance and made it safely in. Take a look at this video shot of western New Zealand’s Gray River bar in really hairy conditions. Thanks, but no … Continue reading →

Posted in EVENTS, SEAMANSHIP | 4 Comments

The Racking Seizing – a strong way to terminate a shroud

Posted on April 9, 2011 by admin

My Facebook friend Ronan Merlateau, a professional rigger and sailmaker with a love of old sailing craft, recently posted photos of the way he terminates the stainless steel wire rope shrouds on his boat. Instead of splicing them or swaging … Continue reading →

Posted in SEAMANSHIP | 5 Comments

Navigating Without Instruments

Posted on February 7, 2011 by admin

Facebook is a wonderful tool if you think outside the box a bit. You start with the usual friends, but whenever you see a comment by someone you don’t know, check them out. If they’re interesting, make friends. Rinse and … Continue reading →

Posted in micromegas, SEAMANSHIP | 1 Comment

Cold Water Boot Camp

Posted on November 25, 2010 by admin

In about 1970 I read about a study by the Royal Navy (without ever seeing the original, so I may have been misinformed) which concluded that people who fell overboard in the English Channel died of hypothermia, not drowning. It … Continue reading →

Posted in EQUIPMENT, GENERAL, SEAMANSHIP | Leave a comment

Learn your lights with Jim Murrant

Posted on November 24, 2010 by admin

It takes a lot of night sailing to develop the skills to identify even the commoner lights immediately, even if you frequent busy thoroughfares (which are the last place you want to be if you have to grab a torch … Continue reading →

Posted in SEAMANSHIP | Leave a comment