Safety Briefing Template
Emergency roles, comms, gear use, and abandon-ship flow. Print, brief, sign.
Captain’s tools
The Captain’s Locker
Downloads, checklists, and companion videos from Be The Captain. No fluff—just tools you’ll actually use offshore.
“Seamanship lives in what you can do when everything else fails. That’s why the plan must exist before the storm.”
Fair winds, James Evenson
Core tools
Crew Welcome/Expectations Doc
Crew expectations, packing, comms, costs, and duties—send before they step aboard.
Captain’s Letter (Crew Entry Letter)
One-page crew letter to present at immigration when your crew is joining you. Fill, print, sign.
Vessel Delivery Waiver
Owner acknowledgment for deliveries: seaworthiness/insurance, liability limits, expenses, standby fee, and routing authority.
Affidavit to Use Vessel (Owner Permission)
Owner authorization for temporary use of a vessel—handy for deliveries, crew boarding, port clearance, and official requests. Neutral, reusable template in English & Español.
Watch Schedules
Printable rotations tested offshore. Choose crew size:
The Captain’s Manifesto
The creed—fancy print sheet and plain version.
Offshore Liability Waiver
The waiver I use with paying crew—adapt it for your program.
Skills videos
Soft-Shackle Walkthrough
Step-by-step Dyneema soft shackles and splicing basics.
How to Heave-to
Stabilize the boat, rest the crew, and reduce loads in rough weather—my offshore method.
How to Kedge Off
Get yourself unstuck safely using a kedge—gear, setup, and step-by-step execution.
Checklists & guides
Abandonment Checklist
One-page, print-ready checklist + quick reminders. Keep a copy at the nav station and in the ditch bag.
Links, Books & Recommended Videos
Curated resource guide with training links, reading list, podcasts, and gear sources.
Departure Checklist
30-day countdown, dockside procedures, and pre-departure tests—print, laminate, and brief.
System Testing Checklist
Prove the critical systems before you point the bow offshore.
Ditch Bag Inventory
Coastal and offshore versions with practical notes. Print, laminate, and review quarterly.
Sailing with Kids (Mini eBook)
Real stories and practical wisdom for cruising families. Safety, schooling, routines, and how to make life afloat joyful for kids and parents alike.
Bonus deep dives
When the Ocean Roared — Libra
Newport–Bermuda passage in 50–60 knots: Gulf Stream strategy, storm tactics, and what a true bluewater ketch can do when the front really hits.
S/V Escape — Lessons Learned
What failed, what worked, and what I carry into every passage.
S/V Theros — Battery Fire Tragedy
A lithium retrofit gone wrong: a fire at sea, a dinghy escape, and the fatal chain of decisions every cruiser must understand.
S/V Platino — Boom & Preventer Failure
Two fatalities in the South Pacific after a preventer and mainsheet failure. A stark reminder of boom control and crew safety zones offshore.
Cheeki Rafiki — Keel Failure at Sea
A Beneteau 40.7 lost her keel in the North Atlantic, killing four. A landmark investigation that reshaped safety and survey standards worldwide.
S/V Raindancer — Whale Strike & Survival
A 2023 mid-Pacific whale collision that sank a boat in 15 minutes. Modern comms, teamwork, and a perfect ditch-bag turned disaster into rescue.
Golden Globe — Susie Goodall Pitch-Pole
Solo sailor dismasted in the Southern Ocean. A survival masterclass on storm tactics, drogue use, and mental endurance under isolation.
The framework behind the tools
Be The Captain
This book explains the way I think about seamanship, risk, and decision-making offshore. The tools in the Captain’s Locker are built from this framework.
If this page makes sense to you, the book will too.
Private decision sessions
Work with James
I offer a limited number of private decision sessions for sailors facing significant offshore choices—boat selection, preparation, risk assessment, or passage planning. These are not introductory calls or general advice sessions.
90-minute decision session • $500
Preparation matters. Please send relevant details in advance—your experience, sail plan, goals, timeline, and links to any boats, surveys, or supporting materials—so I can review them before we meet. This is a decision session—no fluff.
Limited availability
Missing something you wish existed? Tell me what to add
Get Locker Updates
Want a heads-up when I add new tools or case studies to the Locker? No spam—just seamanship.
Or just keep exploring — everything here stays free.