I think this is a great book! 5 Stars.
Constructive Criticism: The author has a tendency to speak in absolutes when there are many more caveats to sailing. Being a retired airline pilot I believe there should be more concentration on what we would call “Crew Resource Management”. (CRM)
James is spot on how accidents happen, and sailing would greatly benefit like medicine has tapping into the core principles of CRM:
Crew Resource Management (CRM) is a training system designed to optimize safety and efficiency in high-stress, high-risk environments. Originally developed in aviation, it focuses on interpersonal communication, leadership, decision-making, and situational awareness to prevent errors and mitigate hazards by effectively utilizing all available people and equipment.CRM was born in the aviation industry in the late 1970s following studies that showed the majority of air crashes were not caused by mechanical failures, but by human errors related to poor teamwork and communication.The Core Principles of CRM: training typically focuses on seven key non-technical skills:Situational Awareness: Maintaining an accurate, big-picture understanding of the surroundings, the equipment, and the overall environment.Communication: Ensuring clear, unambiguous exchanges of information and active listening among team members.Decision-Making: Gathering information, analyzing it, and making informed, timely choices under pressure.Teamwork and Leadership: Fostering a cooperative environment where every team member is valued and encouraged to speak up, regardless of rank.Assertiveness: The ability to respectfully but firmly voice concerns or challenge unsafe decisions, breaking down rigid hierarchies.Workload Management: Prioritizing tasks to prevent task saturation, fatigue, and operational errors.Conflict Resolution: Effectively handling disagreements and balancing authority with collaboration.
I’m going to listen to this book a third time…there is so much good technical information and advice. 5 Stars for sure.
Easy read, dense and inciteful
I found this to be a great read demonstrating how important it is to be a leader. When times deteriorate and everyone is looking for a solution, you must be the one to give it. The importance of leading is often overlooked and the information here uses examples of the sailing community to drive home that point. Great examples of why it is so important to be a leader and not a follower, especially in an environment that has no give at times.
a must-read for any serious skipper (offshore or advanced coastal). so many things you can learn, either straight away make it a habit or take as brainfood for adapting to your own way of sailing.
or you here and there you just take it as cofirmation on your already existing setups and procedures.
all in all great work, thanks for sharing your profound experience (the audio / ebook combo makes it great for eating it up while sailing)
wish you safe passages and fair winds.
Incredible a must have for sailors !!