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 All aspects of a spectacular and previously unpublished maritime tradition are considered, not forgetting the competitions between pilots to be the best crews.
Read more...
Video Dangerous disembarking. Very unprofessional actions.
published on 28 July 2021
Video P21 pilots4 0
published on 26 February 2021
Article Maritime Pilotage and Sustainable Seaport: A Systematic Review
by Seyed Behbood Issa-Zadeh & Claudia Lizette Garay-Rondero - published on 14 August 2025
Video Why Can't Ships Reverse Around Corners?
published on 20 September 2024
Article ABP Southampton puts pressure on non-compliant 'trap door' Arrangements
by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 22 April 2020
Article Gladding-Hearn Builds New Class of Launch for Maryland Pilots
published on 26 July 2021
Opinion Five questions for Jason Ranston, Business Manager at eMPX
published on 18 May 2021
Video Corryvreckan Maelstrom & Thunder Child II documentary
published on 28 July 2020
Safehaven Marine undertook an 800nm 4 day cruise in Thunder Child II to Scotland, living off the boat to visit a place called the Gulf of Corryvreckan. A pretty wild yet beautiful place. The Corryvreckan whirlpool, or ‘Maelstrom’, as would be a more appropriate description, is formed as the tide enters the narrow stretch of water between the Islands of Jura and Scarba that is the Gulf of Corryvreckan. Here the tidal flow speeds up to 8.5kts as it is squeezed between the islands, and there...