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Articles are of general interest to the entire CCA membership, and are not particular to any specific station. Categories include Feature Articles, Safety Moments, White Papers and For Ocean Racers.

  • MOB
    A Different Kind of Man Overboard

    A Different Kind of Man Overboard

    “From the CCA School of Hard Rocks

    ...lessons learned in pursuit of the Art of Seamanship”

    By David Tunick

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  • Life Jacket
    PFDs for Extreme Events

    Author: Ralph Naranjo

    Publication: Practical Sailor, July 2021

    Ralph Naranjo is a member of the Cruising Club of America and its Safety & Seamanship Committee. He is a former Vanderstar Chair at the US Naval Academy and author of THE ART OF SEAMANSHIP: Evolving Skills, Exploring Oceans and Handling Wind, Waves and Weather.

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  • Lady's Harbor
    No Room for Error
  • Sailing where it is cold
    THE COLD FACTS: Special Safety Considerations of High Latitude Voyaging

    With tens of thousands of miles sailed (and working) in the cold-water latitudes, CCA Member Mark Roye has learned a thing or two about staying safe and surviving where the water is cold, sometimes almost freezing. From maintaining safety-oriented attitudes to carrying -- and practicing with -- properly-selected equipment, the steps one must take in harsher environments are more exacting and more critical than warmer cruising grounds

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  • VHF and SSB DSC Calling

    (video demonstration at the end)

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  • Boat Safety Survey: Not just for racers

    Our boat sat unused last year because of Covid, and I scheduled a two day in depth inspection last week to look at the boat, and safety issues.  Issues found were extremely surprising and have led to improvements in boat safety.  


         We have a Trintella 47 built in Holland in 2001 with excellent construction.  But he found:

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  • A VHF with DSC
    DSC Radio Check: Fast, Easy, and Automatic

    Since the discontinuation of SeaTow's radio check service, the US Coast Guard recommends all VHF checks be held by DSC test call to their Rescue 21 system on digital channel 70 (the only all-digital channel).  All fixed marine radios since 1999 have DSC capability. Since 2011 these radios must also have a DSC test call capability.

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  • A nautical chart
    Perhaps Overconfidence, not Curiosity, Killed the Cat?
    Armed with a small amount of misinformation, we concoct a story to fit what we think we see and then twist additional evidence to comply. Read more
  • Seminar Burgees
    Video: Advances in MOB Recovery

    It's 2021. When someone goes overboard, you want the benefit of the latest experience and thinking. Our panel discusses MOB techniques including recovery under spinnaker and the new "mid-line" hoist. Led by Cruising Club of America, the New York Yacht Club, and Storm Trysail Club.

    See the video here.

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  • The Conception at dawn
    Rethinking Re-chargeable Lithium Powered Equipment on Board

    With the recent indictment of the Captain of the Conception due to the loss of life during the fatal fire on board the dive boat on September 2, 2019, it is timely to consider how we have our vessels set up for charging the batteries on portable equipment.  The National Safety Transportation Board review pointing at the charging battery powered devices as a probable cause of the fire should be a

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