Under Way: The A-Z Guide to Safe and Successful Seamanship

Every year more and more people are taking up sailing. Boats of all shapes and sizes, manned by one-man or family-size crews, turn the world's waterways into colourful sights at weekends; single-handed crossings over vast distances, or around the world, are now almost commonplace, despite the awesome hazards that the sea can offer. There is one requirement that all these sailors, whether experienced or not, must share if they are to avoid disaster at sea, or on any waterway. It is knowledge of the day-to-day aspects of seamanship, and that is what this book provides. In an A-Z form it lists the basic information about seamanship that all modern sailors need, and covers topics as diverse as towing, salvage, clearing a fouled anchor or propeller, leaks, 'man overboard', raising and lowering a mast, going aground, precautions in fog, anchoring in heavy weather, rescue, and many more. Where applicable, each subject is accompanied by clear, step-by-step drawings - over 180 in all. The author has written the book in an easy-to-read and understandable style, so that in any emergency situation the action he recommends can be taken immediately and effectively. Under Way is an essentially practical book - Bill Beavis had the words 'Will the man or woman out there in the boat really need this information?' printed in capital letters over his desk as he decided which headings to include. Well known through the Yorkshire Television series Plain Sailing and his regular articles in Yachting Monthly and Motorboat & Yachting, Bill Beavis is also author of four very successful sailing books. This, his fifth, will surely finds its way into the lockers and onto the shelves of all sailing enthusiasts.