CHAPTER 1


While noting with satisfaction that the Admiral considered the art of seamanship to be a noble one, the reassuring choice of words for the writer of this manual was ‘practical’. Since the book is published by the RYA, it must be seen as carrying official approval. Much consideration went into the scope, but the recurring theme was, ‘let’s keep it hands-on’. A clear gap existed between what could realistically be taught on a course and the actuality of all the skills required to operate a boat safely and smoothly in any conditions at sea and in harbour. Originally conceived to take up that slack, the manual moved on to establish a more general position extending beyond the RYA course programmes. A glance through the contents list will indicate those subjects the writer and the RYA feel should be incorporated into a modern definition of small- craft seamanship. They begin with an analysis of the commonest hull configurations, because without this knowledge it is impossible to predict how a specific vessel may behave. This is followed by a section on what Admiral Smyth called ‘rigging’. In his day, a ship’s motive force was delivered by natural fibre cordage, wood and canvas. Today, the job may be done by the diesel engine, or perhaps a sailing rig of stainless steel, polyester sailcloth and ropes whose qualities would have boggled the mind of an 1860s’ rigger. The 21st century seaman must know how to work with them all. In addition to what remains essentially ship’s husbandry, however, he or she must be able to berth and unberth vessels of widely varying characteristics, then confidently handle the same boats offshore in a storm. And when the tempest is past, good seamen can rub shoulders with others of their calling without attracting attention by some embarrassing slip-up in conventional behaviour or unwitting bad manners. Late 20th century developments in navigation and communication revolutionized seafaring to an extent only previously achieved by the engine. Those of us who deal with small craft are now in far closer touch with the sea’s elemental nature than professionals in powerful ships. Our seamanship should be our pride as well as our joy.


Notes on gender A matter of gender


‘Seaman’ – Back in ancient history when the term ‘seaman’ was coined, the salt-water calling was largely confined to the male of the species. Things have changed, but the name remains as a quaint reminder of a different world. The author has consulted his wife, his adult daughter and a number of ladies of his acquaintance, all seafarers of wide experience, and none find the word sexually offensive. In search of political correctness, such bodies as the National Union of Seamen have switched to ‘seafarer’, but to say, ‘the normal practice of seafarers’, or ‘Jemima is a grand seafarer’, sounds so strained and lame that the author has decided to stick to the old ways. As for ‘seapersonship’, or any other such gobbledegook, let us have none of it. For the purposes of this book, ‘seaman’ does not mean ‘a male who goes on a boat’, it means ‘a man or woman who is master or mistress of the way of a vessel on salt water’.


‘She’ – Throughout the text, boats, ships and all vessels are generally referred to by the traditional ‘she’. The author makes no apology for this. Seamen still do it, and if non-specialist journalists and government officials choose to substitute this ancient choice of pronoun with the neuter, ‘it’, that is their privilege. This is a manual written by a seaman for seamen and, ‘she’, a boat emphatically remains.


Seamanship is just as important today as it was in ancient times. This modern skipper with his high-tech Aerorig is drawing on skills that have evolved over many centuries.


MANUAL OF SEAMANSHIP | 7


Manual of seamanship


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