Captain John's Sailing Tips
Newsletter Issue #132 ~ December 24, 2011
In Today's Issue:
* It's Your Call, Skipper!
* Sailing Skills Video-of-the-Week
* Christmas Encounter with a Coral Reef!
* Did You Miss the Latest Member Articles?
* Sailing Skipper's Quotable Quotes
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Captain John's Special Christmas Presentation Video
Imagine sailing as crew for 1,600 miles from the cold waters of New England to the Caribbean aboard a 44 foot cruising cutter with three others. In November 2010, Captain John helped deliver "Rubicon" to the Dutch side of St. Maarten. Crank up your speakers, sit back and enjoy the video...
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Christmas Encounter with a Coral Reef!
One of our members sent in this nautical poem passed on to her by the skipper of S/V "Leonore". "Leonore" struck a reef in the Las Aves (means "The Birds") Archipelago of Central America one Christmas several years ago. Enjoy...
At 0100 a.m. from our sleep we were taken...
It was not yet time to be awakened.
We flew from our bunks as we heard such a clatter.
To check it all out, to see what was the matter.
A look at our instruments showed us clearly and quick.
We'd hit a reef! The noise wasn't Saint Nick.
The wind was howling at 20 knots and hour.
It was raining like crazy, and not just a shower.
We had a full moon, but no beam of light.
It was covered by clouds for most of the night.
Leonore, beloved! What has happened to you?
You are on a reef, now what do we do?
The rudder was wedged in the coral so tight...
that we couldn't steer her, not with all of our might.
But the Lord heard our prayers and we finally backed off.
It was a night without sleep, but a lesson was learned...
a lesson to keep.
Stay clear of all reefs, whatever you do.
Check out your surroundings...
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!
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Did You Miss the Latest Member's Articles?
Keep Your Sailing Compass Safe with the "Rule of 36"!
December 22, 2011 ~ No sailing navigation tool tops a great magnetic compass for simplicity and reliability--without the hassle of power or batteries. But you need to be aware of one secret rule that can cause any compass to go haywire!..
//www.skippertips.com/snip/839.htm
Sailing Tips - Seven Money Saving Sail Care Secrets!
December 20, 2011 ~ Wind, sun, rain and dirt combine like gangbusters to attack your boat sails. And if you don't catch damage early, your sailboat cruising sails could end up costing you a fortune in repairs--and lost cruising time! Follow these seven savvy tips, collected from sailmaking experts to get ready for the upcoming sailing season. ...
//www.skippertips.com/snip/838.htm
Use These Magic Beacons to Find Your Way!
December 15, 2011 ~ Did you know that some aids to navigation, like big sea buoys or lighthouse, have special homing beacons? Or that these magic beacons paint a picture on your radar for easier navigation in any sailing weather. Use these simple sailing tips to boost your navigation safety sky high!...
//www.skippertips.com/snip/830.htm
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Sailing Skipper's Quotable Quotes...
The most basic prerequisite to all forms of navigation and piloting is the ability to read a paper chart.
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and techniques articles, videos, and eBooks. Click Here for More Info!
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-- Daniel Spurr, world famous author and former senior editor of Cruising World magazine.
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-- John Vigor, acclaimed author of 12 sailing books and cruising sailor".
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