Welcome to the Nav Station
One of the most surprising things I’ve learned while training to skipper sailing yachts at Courageous Sailing is how little it has to do with basic seamanship. Don’t get me wrong, sailing is critical. In fact, one should not only know how to sail, but be pretty good at it, and really love it as well. But I think it is assumed one will know a sheet from a halyard by the time they start training for cruising, and off-shore passage making.
It is certainly true to say seamanship is important, but any novice sailor can be taught to steer a yacht and trim the sails. A smart greenhorn can also rapidly come to terms with the fundamentals of point to point navigation, and learn all their knots. But the sailing part of managing a modern yacht is a fraction of the overall body of knowledge required to get around the globe with safety, efficiency, and comfort.
Yesterday I awoke early with the windows open and noticed an old familiar crispness in the air, signaling impending changes in the weather (assuming the weather actually changes this year*). Though I love the fall season, opportunities to get out on the water will become fewer and further between over the next few months. Fortunately, there is no better time to buckle down on the vast body of knowledge a skipper must master outside of sailing then during a cold New England winter.
That’s why I thought it would be a great idea on Running Downwind to make a list of those skills (other than general seamanship) an aspiring captain must learn. So here they are, the 12 hobbies of highly effective skippers, in no particular order. I say hobbies because, I’m guessing I will need to enjoy the pursuit of knowledge of each as if it is a hobby to be successful. Any one could be an entire career path on its own…
- Diesel mechanics
- Plumbing
- Propane systems
- Marine electrical systems
- Basic meteorology & weather forecasting technology
- Traditional navigation techniques
- Digital navigation and chart plotting
- Communications
- Boating safety
- Basic first-aid
- COLREGS
- Leadership
Diesel mechanics
Any yacht more than 24 feet in length is most likely going to have a diesel auxiliary engine. As captain, one will need to maintain and repair said engine. Furthermore, it is quite possible one may need to repair said engine in far-flung parts of the world with limited access to parts and knowledge. This is a rather special set of circumstances and as such warrants the special knowledge and preparation only other mariners can share. I am told the Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat’s Essential Systems
by Nigel Calder is the must have text on this subject. It’s definitely on my personal list of required reading.
Plumbing
This is one of those general disciplines for handling a variety of marine systems. The fresh water system, marine head, refrigeration, engine, through hull fittings, and more. At the very least, a captain better know how a seacock works, the location of each and every one on his or her boat, and exactly what to do when one breaks, in a hurry.
Propane systems
Comfortable cruising includes hot meals and heated cabins in colder latitudes which is why, for reasons of safety and worldwide availability, a typical yacht will usually include propane cooking and heating systems. One can not say enough about how important it is to completely understand the safe handling of any explosive gas on board. Although propane related accidents are rare, they do occur. Proper understanding of these systems will definitely mitigate the risk of a fire or an explosion while ensuring smooth and efficient operation whenever required. Just ask anyone who needs coffee first thing in the morning how important this can be.
Marine electrical systems
Even a basic cruising boat will have a fairly complex electrical system with both shore-side 110 volt power and 12 volt battery power. The battery charging system delivers energy via some combination of diesel generator, wind, solar, and even submerged impellers. More sophisticated boats will also have a secondary gas powered generator and/or power inverter capable of pushing 110 volts of alternating current when away from the dock.
Put it all together and it is obvious a captain must have a solid foundation with electrical systems. Then factor in the unique complications of being on the ocean. Salt water and humidity are hell on electrical systems and yachts are increasingly equipped with highly valued, sensitive, digital equipment such as desktop chart plotting, weather forcasting, radar, radios, kitchen equipment, GPS, and more. Again, Nigel Calder’s bookis a well known, and highly recommended resource.
NW Atlantic Wind and Waves
Meteorology and weather forecasting technology
It seems sort of axiomatic, but seafarers live by the weather. Sailors, in particular, must be constantly focused on the wind and sea conditions before and during passages. Even as one who is still shore-bound, I am working hard to get into the habit of being constantly aware of what’s going on with the weather on the coast and beyond. I am currently reading and learning a lot from Modern Marine Weather.
Interestingly in the introduction they recommend reading Nathaniel Bowditch
for more fundamental knowledge related to observing and understanding marine weather.
Traditional navigation
You can’t just consult Google maps for directions when you want to get from one place on the ocean to another (yet). For one thing, navigating at sea is an incredibly dynamic activity based on seasonal weather patterns, currents, localized wind conditions, tides, depths, and more. Further complicating matters when you are off-shore, there are no landmarks on the horizon. In the event of an equipment failure, which is always a possibility where salt water meets electrical systems, it is critical to know how to navigate using traditional techniques including dead reckoning and celestial navigation.
Much has been written on this topic but The American Practical Navigator
is claimed as the best selling boating book ever. It is certainly on my own reading list. Navigation is complicated and my own personal development in this area has already and will continue to include multiple classes on and off the water.
Digital navigation
All that being said about traditional navigation, there’s nothing like the convenience of modern navigation systems. I have just begun to scratch the surface of this topic, which I plan to eventually dedicate many blog entries to. I’m currently talking to engineers about building a plugin for OpenCPN. I highly recommend checking it out…Much more on this topic to come.
Communications
Ship to ship and ship to shore communications on board yachts is getting more complicated as it gets more convenient. Gaining a thorough knowledge of VHF, Ham, HF, Cellular and Satellite communication systems is absolutely necessary. This is another one of those areas where reading and classes is recommended. Typical topics covered in an RYA GMDSS course include:
- VHF communications
- Controls found on marine VHF set
- Channels (simplex & duplex)
VHF communication range
- VHF DSC (Digital Selective Calling)
- Distress, Safety and Routine Calling
- MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) numbers
- Ships licence and radio regulations
- Voice procedures
- NAVTEX
- MSI (Martine Safety Information) broadcasts
- Stations
- Portable safety equipment
- EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indication Radio Beacons)
- SARTs (Search & Rescue radar Transponders)
Boating safety
Sadly, boating can, and sometimes does, have disastrous results. According to the United States Coast Guard, In 2011 there were 4588 accidents that involved 758 deaths, 3081 injuries and approximately $52 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents. Only eleven percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction. Only seven percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received boating safety instruction from a NASBLA-approved course provider.
Long story short: Get safety training.
First-aid
Even after safety training, accidents will happen. In fact, on a rolling boat you are likely to eventually experience a fall which can result in cuts, bruises, or broken bones…And you can’t simply call 911 from a boat that’s off the dock. Every captain should know how to deal with the most common accidents and emergency medical situations. With even a simple accident off-shore, knowing first-aid can make the difference between survival and death for the captain and/or their crew. All this being said, don’t be scared. A life sitting at a desk while living in a typical city is far more likely to present opportunities for serious or life-threatening injury or illness.
COLREGS
Further on the subject of safety is the United States Coast Guard Collision Regulations, or ‘COLREGS’.
Required reading for a 100 ton Captain’s license, this is essential knowledge for anyone on the water.
Leadership
This is one of my favorite topics. It has so many applications in life, business, and certainly on the water. The time when it was acceptable to rule by fear or intimidation on a boat are all but extinct in most of the developed world. They certainly are not tools valued or used by a savvy skipper, often on a boat with a crew including spouses, family, and friends. Many books have been written on the subject. I can’t think of any I recommend more than others. What I will about leadership is this should be a lifelong pursuit for anyone on this planet…No matter where their feet are planted.
In closing, this list is not meant to be exhaustive. One thing I love about being on the water is the never ending pile of things to get better at. That being said, I’m sure I’ve missed something. What do you think? I am definitely planning to create an essential reading list. What books do you think should be included?
*The winter never really arrived in 2011/2012
Once outside Castle Island we settled down for a couple long tacks to round Spectacle Island. Although I’ve been on Boston Harbor hundreds of times, this was truly the very first where I was the senior sailor, completely responsible for the boat and crew. The first time it fell to me to decide if it would be prudent to take the longer planned route or turn back, based on time, currents, tides, and all the other conditions a skipper must consider. Although we had fought gusty upwind sailing against the tide to get out of the inner harbor, the J24′s speed had left us plenty of time to range out further and the wind, tide, and current would be favorable on the return trip.
