Whether out for an afternoon's sail or embarking on a long offshore passage, there is always an element of chance and uncertainty about being at sea. To be responsible for the wellbeing of both crew and vessel, a good skipper needs to know their limitations and ensure they are operating well within the margins of safety. Safe Skipper is a practical and thought provoking guide for yacht skippers of all levels of experience, full of invaluable advice and tips on how to reduce to the minimum the risks of mishaps and equipment failure at sea. There's a wide range of information on seamanship, preparation, seaworthiness, gear, boat handling, leadership, teamwork, watch keeping, communications, navigation, weather and emergency procedures, all delivered in a highly practical, lively, non-preachy fashion. Included throughout are useful checklists, box-outs and case studies of accidents and their causes, with survivors' testimonials and explanations of how disasters were avoided, or could have been, all of which provides valuable lessons for everyone who goes to sea.

Chapter 1 Preparation Principles of seaworthiness and seamanship Avoiding personal dangers Biggest dangers a yacht may encounter Local v long-distance cruising Margins of safety Vessel checks: hull, rigging, ground tackle, engine, seacocks, gas system, electrical system Safety briefings and checklists Safety equipment Passage planning Weather forecasting Tides Chapter 2 Boat Handling On-board communication, leadership and teamwork Crew management Watch-keeping Principles of collision avoidance Importance of a balanced sail plan Reefing Dealing with challenging tides and currents Sailing to windward Surviving heavy weather, towing drogues Anchoring Chapter 3 Communications VHF DSC radio SSB radio, satellite phone, mobile phone AIS, GMDSS, Inmarsat-C NAVTEX and SafetyNET EPIRB, Personal Locator Beacon, MOB beacons, SART Single letter meanings, phonetic alphabet, prowords, International Code of Signals Chapter 4 Equipment and maintenance Engine maintenance, filters and spares Fuel system, air supply and oil pressure The cooling system Electrics Avoiding and identifying electrical problems Tools and spares Safety and emergency equipment Distress signals Liferafts Electronics and instruments System networks Fresh-water system First aid kits Chapter 5 Emergencies First aid at sea, including common medical emergencies Engine failure Emergency steering Capsize Dismasting Holed hull Fire Man overboard (MOB) Sending distress signals Getting a tow