Taking a celestial altitude at sea

In the Etchells class, Ed has taken part in the Great Lakes and North American Championships, and done the North Americans in the Hobie 33 class. Ed has served in every position, from bowman, trimmer, navigator, stactician and skipper. He was helmsman on the Farr 50 Experience. His true passions, however, are ocean passage making and helping others to elevate their sailing skills. After his first offshore passages in 1987, he began crewing on many offshore deliveries, and became a USCG Licensed Master in 1990          His experience in making delivery yachts ready for the ocean was the basis for his book, 'Ready to Sail', which details the inspection process he developed to systematically examine a vessel prior to taking her to sea, and describing methods of repair for defects, with extensive information and insights on offshore sailing. The book concludes with discussions on safety gear and procedures, and vessel and crew preparations for sea.  This book is used by delivery captains, offshore passagemeakers, inland daysailors, and ocean racing crews to make their vessels as safe as possible.           Ed's second book, "Further Offshore" takes the reader from their first inkling of desire to sail the oceans along the pathway to owning and mastering the techniques of sailing offshore.  Its chapters outline boat selection, outfitting, crew training, voyage routing and preparation , maneuvering under power, anchoring and more - all the steps involved in getting ready to set sail.  Then as the vessel departs for sea, Further Offshore details the techniques necessary to properly conduct the passage.  Chapters include vessel monitoring and maintenance, rigging for heavy weather and management of storm conditions,  long range communications.  An extensive chapter on understanding the weather and how to make decisions based on correct interpretation of incoming information is a highlight of the second half of the book.  Another comprehensive chapter discusses proper techniques for assessing injury and illness, and how to treat patients with a varied assortment of injuries ranging from seasickness to closed head injury, near drowning and hypothermia to attacks by marine animals.          The third and newest publication is called, "Safer Offshore" is a unique book that is unmatched anywhere.  Its pages discuss the myriad of problems encountered by crews at sea.  Ed's 35 years and 97,000 sea miles are tapped for comprehensive descriptions on how advanced sailors cope and bring their vessels through demanding conditions.  Loss of the rudder and steering control, dismasting, abandon ship and surviving in the life raft, helicopter evacuation, fire and flooding, towing, running aground, long and short range communications, engine failure - these and other topics are convered in concise detail that helps sailors become more seamanlike and proficient, even in the most difficult of circumstances.                    Voyager Ocean Passages Email: captainmapes@offshorevoyager.com