The first volume of Pilots concentrated on the stories of American and British schooners. Volume 2 enters what for many will be a less familiar world... that of the remarkable pilot brigs and small undecked craft. Schooners range from the Hiates of Portugal to the beautiful station boats of the North Sea ports of Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, and France. The development of the schooners themselves into such highly sophisticated craft is traced from regional predecessors. Volume 2 of Pilots is not just about boats — the sailors also have their role. The book follows highly difficult manoeuvres under sail, dangerous transfers at sea, the routine of everyday life, and the perils of heavy weather including ships wrecked and lives saved. All aspects of a spectacular and previously unpublished maritime tradition are considered, not forgetting the competitions between pilots to be the best crews.
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Video The Port Phillip Sea pilots launch Torquay out and back again, seen at Point Lonsdale, Vic, Aust.
published on 17 March 2025
Video Boarding a British warship by ladder in the North sea.
published on 26 November 2025
Early morning out on the North Sea, battling rough seas and heavy swell as we head out to board the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Tyne. The pilot boat is rolling and pitching, spray hitting the windows, and every movement has to be timed perfectly.
In this video you’ll see the full approach in challenging conditions, the moment we come alongside, and the pilot making the transfer while the sea throws everything it can at us. Real life out here — cold, raw, unpredictable — but this is the job...
Video "The Port Pilot" by Richard Blanco - Read by Tom Wilson
published on 30 April 2020
Video Safehaven Marine: Sines big day at Daunt and offshore F9 inc crash landing
published on 18 January 2022
If you fancy seeing what it’s like aboard during some rough weather sea trials, here’s a pretty cool little video of our Interceptor 48 pilot built for the Port of Sines. Some really great Arial drone footage and interesting POV (Point of view) with narration from aboard her in 5-6m seas and in 50kt winds 25 miles offshore.
How difficult is to land a drone back down on the boat in 5-6m swells and 45-50kt wind gusts? Pretty damn difficult as it turns out! Sometimes we fail as you’ll see at...
Article In Memoriam of Captain Dennis R. Sherwood (1955 - 2019)
by Bianca Reineke, lutheran Pastor, Germany - published on 3 January 2020
Ladders are the bridges for crossing the rough seas of our lives.
When you are a Marine Pilot at work, hoping and praying that the ladders which let you embark the vessel are stable, safe and not dangerous.
In Memoriam of the late Captain Dennis Sherwood who passed away on Monday the 30th of December.
Video Galtex Pilots disembarking Carnival Breeze in rough seas on Nov. 30 2023
published on 13 December 2023
Video What Happened To The Napoli?
published on 22 October 2021
Opinion Five questions for Ahmed Sati / Marine Pilot at P&O Maritime
by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 18 November 2020
