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PLOT YOUR COURSE TO ADVENTURE, How to be a Successful Cruiser
The actual Table of Contents in the book is 14 pages long. The following Table of Content lists only the major headings of each chapter. Under each chapter there is a paragraph or two taken from the text to provide an example of what to expect. Also, there are 116 illustrations to help clarify some of the text.
INTRODUCTION:
Page 6: If you are considering taking a boat offshore and crossing oceans, I would like to suggest that you take some quiet time to seriously evaluate this idea. Most importantly, if you have a partner, be certain he or she is involved in the decision or you may find yourself sailing alone. All too often, the desire to go cruising is only one person’s dream and the partner goes along because it is expected. One really unhappy person aboard a small boat can take away all the enjoyment of the adventure for everyone.
Chapter 1: BEFORE YOU GO CRUISING
Page 11: Most of those who have cruised extensively would agree that one of the most enjoyable aspects of offshore cruising is to be hundreds of miles from land, set the windvane or autopilot and sail along at 6 knots in a light breeze. You can listen to the water rushing by the hull as the miles pass, all with the power of the wind over the sails. This is the time to watch the beauty of the open ocean and the clear skies. Nighttime brings more stars than can be imagined. The sense of solitude and self-fulfillment is overwhelming. There is a feeling of humbleness and respect, for the thought of the power of the sea is always in the back of the mind. It is times like this that God feels close.
Where to go Cruising:
When to go Cruising:
How can you afford to go Cruising?
Chapter 2: GAIN EXPERIENCE BEFORE DEPARTING
Page 5: The more skill the cruiser has to sail the boat in tight quarters, in calms or in adverse weather, the greater the chance of someday saving the boat and perhaps even lives. An easy way to get some experience without the possibility of damage to your own boat or others is to set out markers as obstacles and to practice sailing around them. As confidence is gained, place the obstacles closer together until you discover your boat’s limitations.
Chapter 3: THE CRUISING YACHT
Page 54: It is the purpose of this chapter to reveal as much information as I can, both good and bad, about a sailing vessel’s design and construction. I will leave the final deduction to the reader. It is possible that I might miss an item or two. The number of pros and cons can extend into minute details that have little need to be considered in this book.
There is one concern that should take precedence over all others: the safety for vessel and crew. The vessel should be stoutly built and able to take the punishment from the pounding of the seas over many years of use. Many prospective cruisers may be highly qualified as sailors, but lack the knowledge of proper design and construction methods that make a cruising vessel safe. A lot of money can be spent on a yacht that may not have the necessary qualities to go offshore.
The size of the vessel
The type of boat
Sailing rigs
Hull shapes and sterns
Transom vs. Canoe sterns
Basic formulas for expected performance and stability
Keel shapes and ballast types
Internal ballast vs. external ballast
Hull Construction
Steel hulls
Aluminum hulls
Wooden hulls
Ferro cement hulls
Fiberglass hulls (GRP)
Steering methods
Deck design and construction
Mast and rigging
Deck stepped mast vs. keel stepped mast
Chapter 4: ANCHORS AND ANCHORING
Page 157: I consider this the most important chapter in this book. More boats are lost as a result of poor anchoring techniques than for any other reason. Unfortunately, most sailors think it is a simple matter of setting an anchor, backing down so it doesn’t drag and that’s it.
Anchor types and their use
Anchor size
Anchor rodes and strengths
Anchor windlass, power and manual
Marking anchor rodes
Suggestions for anchoring
Anchoring using the engine
Anchoring under sail
Leaving the anchorage under sail
Different anchoring situations
Chapter 5: STORM STRATEGY
Page 275: Let’s face it: there isn’t an author who can comprehensively cover all aspects of any single subject about sailing. There I go again, making an absolute statement. Well, there may be such an author, but I feel that in sailing—especially storm strategy---there are too many variable that could influence a particular technique. No two boats are alike and they all handle differently in heavy weather. Some will not even heave-to, while others do so almost automatically. The severity of the weather, the variation of the state of the seas, the expected duration of the storm, and the condition of the boat and its crew can have an influence on the strategy used. These are only a few of the many variables that can affect the choice and outcome of a particular method or technique.
Beaufort Scale
The vessel
Preparation of the vessel before the storm
Preparing the parachute anchor in advance
Avoid the storm
How to avoid a storm
Basic weather information
Preparations for the storm’s arrival
Strategies for handling the storm
Reefing sails
Setting drogues
Heave-to under sail
Setting to a parachute anchor
Lying a-hull
When the storm arrives
Chapter 6: HOW TO MAKE THE CRUISE A SUCCESS
Page 360: It is critical to remove any tension aboard. This applies to interaction between skipper, crew and family members. Most tension is a result of fear. The more experience gained, the more comfortable everyone will be aboard. If the captain exudes sincere confidence, the others will also feel more relaxed and secure. On the other hand, if the skipper shows fear, all aboard will be frightened. Confidence is gained from experience. Take as many short and long sails as possible. Each time you go for a sail, try to imagine a situation that could occur and plan a response. Ask all aboard how they think the situation should be handled. This will create a lot of thought and imagination. Listen to everyone; then act out each of the suggestions until everyone agrees on which technique works the best. This will help reduce many surprises and instill confidence.
Psychological and physical concerns
The boat’s exterior
The boats interior
Sails and Rigging
Mast and Boom
Engine and fuel tanks
Electrical and electronics
Safety items and ideas
Comfort
General ideas
Medical issues
Firearms
Chapter 7: INTERACTING WITH THE PEOPLE
Page 541: One of the biggest problems I have witnessed while cruising is the number of cruisers who have a very negative attitude. Perhaps they don’t agree with the check-in procedures or the cost to pay for a particular repair. There are those who can always find a reason to argue with the authorities and remind them that this would never happen in "our country".
Give yourself time to listen to what the locals are saying and to experience how they live. You may discover that their way is actually better than you imagined, perhaps even better than "back home". You will witness living examples of the extended family and how successfully it works, especially when raising children. This is one of the reasons most of the islands of the South Pacific are crime free. The children get their values from their great grandparents. I have never seen happier old people than in these extended families. There, the elderly are not only cared for, but revered. In the United States, we simply put old people in a nursing home to die and go on with our lives.
Have an open mind
The value of knowing local customs
Wear same type of clothing as the locals
Eat local foods
Humorous stories
CONCLUSION:
Page 579: One of the most enjoyable parts of cruising is the preparation. Everything that is on the boat must have a purpose. The most important items will be the essentials. This will vary by the individual and the size of the boat. Everything else is for enjoyment, comfort, or simply to make life easier. As the boat is being prepared and provisioned, it is inevitable that you will mentally experience the various possible scenarios of your dream cruise. This is the fun part. The mind can take you to the best anchorages, to the friendliest cultures, and to the most exotic foods you have ever known.
Page 580: I feel the final and most important key to a successful cruise is to have the right attitude. There are many factors involved or required that will influence this. The first is to reduce tension and fear. This comes from experience.
The right attitude, however, can also come from accepting that you are different from the rest of the world. You have decided to pursue a dream that many others do not have the courage to attempt.
There are cruisers who will have the right attitude before they ever leave port, others will develop it after years of building confidence, while some will never achieve it at all. If you can just accept that this is what you are going to do and that you will make the best of it, regardless of what others say or what happens, then you will have the right attitude.
The proper attitude can only be achieved if you accept that your life is going to change. For some, it will be a temporary change; for others, it will be for the rest of their lives. Regardless, your life will be totally different than it is now; accept this and look forward to the change. We have a tendency to become complacent in our everyday lives. To me, and many of you, this is boring. Change is good. Change in life is necessary to keep the mind open.
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