New
AcquisitionsRYA Book of
the International Certicate or Competence; Bill Anderson; Adlard Coles Nautical, 2002; £10.99; CA 16042
A wholly admirable manual of small craft handling - notwithstanding the title. The author, a man of wide experience, has cleverly fitted together the foundations essential to starting out.
There is no pretence at a textbook of all matters maritime but as a primer - leading moreover to an examination which, like it or not, is going to be a necessity. For us it fulfils its purpose.
I cannot resist saying that absolutely nothing can replace experience and commonsense. All over the place duly certificated leaders, schoolteachers and whatever are in the news for lack of these qualities, often resulting in tragedy. GPS, echosounders and the rest are all very well but a grounding in log, lead and compass, not to mention a manual bilge pump can come in very handy when electricity fails. - JFB
Page prepared 26 June 2002
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