The Complete Yacht Security Handbook: For Skippers and Crew

Whether moored at their home ports, or visiting a less familiar port in a distant country, sailors need to pay just as much attention to the security of their yacht as they would their home or car. By being aware of potential dangers and taking prudent steps in advance, boaters can ensure that voyages to even the more adventurous of destinations will be less stressful.

The aim of The Complete Yacht Security Handbook is to equip boatowners with the knowledge and confidence to minimize risk, guiding skippers and crew through the entire safety process, from planning the journey, setting up the boat and equipment, to preparing for and dealing with actual threats.

The Complete Yacht Security Handbook covers:
- Achieving a security balance: how to assess risks and counter them, and determine whether it's better to avoid a risk or prepare more thoroughly
- Preparing the boat and equipment, including boat layout, communication, distress signals, alarm systems, access barriers, training, and the pros and cons of weapons
- Hands-on security: safe marina layouts, deterring thieves, what to do if boarded
- Background to attacks on yachts: the difference between inexperienced criminals, pirates, and terrorists; understanding attacker's intentions, tactics, and appropriate methods to defend yourself
- Risk classification for all global cruising grounds
- Security checklists for various types of voyage

With full color photos, illustrations, and tables, The Complete Yacht Security Handbook is an indispensable guide for sailors when planning a voyage. It may not be possible to eradicate the risks completely, but this book will help cruisers assess them realistically and prepare to counter them confidently.

Fritze von Berswordt is a psychologist, strategy consultant, and circumnavigator. During a two-year sabbatical, he sailed around the world (and into many of its more dangerous waters) with his wife and daughter--by researching and preparing well, they had a safe and happy trip. In The Complete Yacht Security Handbook he shows how all sailors can keep their boats and crews safe, whether in the marina at home or in pirate-infested waters.