THE COMPLETE YACHTMASTER – Tom Cunliffe (6th edition). Published in hard covers by Adlard Coles Nautical at £24.99. 304 pages with numerous colour photographs, drawings and diagrams. ISBN 9-7807-1368-948-9
This is an excellent book which should be essential reading for all who go to sea, whether as skipper or crew, although it is primarily directed toward the former. In the first chapter, entitled The Skipper, the author makes the valid point that: ‘The one place the skipper is not required for anything but the minimum of time is the navigatorium’. This chapter contains pertinent advice for those in charge, who should delegate tasks and responsibility to the crew under his or her watchful eye.
Twelve of the thirty-one chapters concern navigation or related topics, which I consider this book’s forte, though all chapters contain gems of advice and reminders for all of us. A key chapter is seventeen, in which the author emphasises the importance of the Estimated Position which ‘marches hand in hand with the GPS fix as the core of today’s navigation’. He says: ‘We have all heard that in an increasingly electronic world it pays not to lose touch with the old skills. If you are foolish enough to put your money entirely on an electronic navigation computer only to find it defunct through a short circuit just as you are plunging towards a lee shore in poor visibility, it won’t help to blame the manufacturers’.
The chapters on GPS, chart plotters, passage planning and navigation are the highlights of the book, with detailed and understandable explanations of the technic aspects of GPS, routeing, VMG, and beating in a cross-current or cross-tide. Trailing logs and leadlines are also mentioned in case of catastrophic electrical failure and as being simple, reliable and inexpensive.
Other chapters cover sail theory, seamanship, anchoring, berthing, ropework, sailing in heavy weather, survival tactics, emergencies, MOB and weather to mention a few. Each also includes a Skippers Tip – for example, Living with the neighbours: ‘Make sure that your crew cross another boat forward of the mast and tell them to be aware of the noise. A twanged shroud or a clumsy boot on a stowed booming-out pole when you creep aboard at closing time will not endear your team to anyone. Keep it quiet is the watchword!’
Tom Cunliffe is a gifted writer who is able to hold the reader’s attention with his comments which, while always true, often give a colourful or amusing twist to the point he is making. For example, on page 121: ‘Navigating in strange waters without augmenting the chart with a good pilot book is like drinking gin without tonic’. He is eminently practical, as when discussing GPS: ‘How many waypoints you can punch at a time won’t be required knowledge when your inexperienced crew sail you under the bows of a supertanker’.
My only criticism is that the book could be a few pages longer, giving space to expand on topics such as ‘working to windward’ in the chapter on Sailing in Heavy Weather. For instance, Tom talks about motor-sailing ‘in extremis’ in order to make ground to windward. I know from personal experience that in such circumstances one has to take great care that the raw water intake never comes out of the water – once, under trysail in winds gusting up to 50–60 knots, we found that the engine could only be used on one tack to ensure that it always had adequate cooling. Perhaps a warning to this effect could be added to the 7th edition?
Although written primarily as an aid for those working towards the British RYA Yachtmaster® qualification, The Complete Yachtmaster should not be thought of as merely a text book but as an excellently written resource, reference and reminder for all who go to sea in small vessels.
JSM
