Skipper's Pocketbook

A pocket database containing everything a busy skipper or their crew needs to know but might find hard to remember. It is easy to take for granted how much a skipper needs to know: Navigation, how to pilot the boat into a new harbour, using the radio, checking the engine, keeping an eye out for things that need repair, monitoring the weather, feeding the crew and much, much more! This pocketbook is designed as an aide-memoire with checklists to make life easier for busy skippers and a must-have reference for first-time skippers. It should also prove an invaluable reference book for the RYA Yachtmaster and other RYA course syllabi. The book has been helping skippers for over 25 years and has been edited and thoroughly updated by Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner, Sara Hopkinson.

Praise for Skipper's Pocketbook

"Whether you're putting to sea in your own boat for the first time or have years of experience, this is a handy reference guide to ship in your pocket or keep on board."
— Sailing Today

"The Skipper's Pocketbook shoehorns generous coverage of many topics into a small volume… all in an easy to understand, concise fashion, and the use of many full colour diagrams help the reader quickly absorb the points."
— Yachting Life

"It contains all of the useful lights, sounds and shapes, as well as instructions to work out tidal heights, position fixing, course to steer, etc. There is also some really useful general information on meteorology, seamanship, knots and basic maintenance. In short… the next best thing to having an instructor onboard. Even if you are not undertaking a course, The Skipper's Pocketbook, even in this digital age, is a must for anyone new to boating or looking to refresh their theoretical skills."
— Motorboat Owner

About the Authors

Sara Hopkinson is an experienced sailor, and a Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner. She runs an RYA Training Centre at Pin Mill in Suffolk which specialises in navigation, radio, radar and first aid courses. She was a Coastguard Rescue Officer for many years and was the Station Officer of HM Coastguard, Holbrook. Sara has written books for the RYA and Fernhurst Books' Navigation: A Newcomer's Guide, VHF Afloat and VHF Companion.

Basil Mosenthal has sailed extensively in all the oceans of the world. After serving in the Royal Navy, where he was able to race offshore extensively, Basil became a partner in one of the first yacht delivery firms in the USA and, after many thousands of miles sailing, he became a consultant in the management of large yachts. He has written many books about sailing, including Fernhurst Books' best-selling Cockpit Companion and popular New Crew's Companion.

About Fernhurst Books

Fernhurst Books was founded in 1979, initially publishing books related to dinghy racing. The list soon expanded to include cruising and other watersports. In 2006 the business was sold to John Wiley, but in 2013 a group of sailing enthusiasts (including the original founder) bought the list and name back, once again creating an independent nautical publisher owned and run by sailors. Fernhurst continues to publish books that instruct, inform and inspire those with a passion on, in or under the water. Their 140+ titles range from how-to guides to narrative to coffee-table books, covering sailing, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, swimming, diving and fishing.