A practical guide designed to help novices avoid and solve problems at sea, on rivers and in the harbour, this book covers the handling of cruisers, the preparation required before going to sea and the various aspects of safety and survival - such as learning about weather and how the sea behaves, matching the speed to the conditions and knowing how to navigate effectively - which may be relevant when things go wrong. The environment in which a motor cruiser operates is explained, as are the effects of waves on a boat's behaviour and the way to get the best out of a boat and enjoy it. Dag Pike, a lifeboat inspector for RNLI and the navigator on Virgin Atlantic Challenger I and II, is a regular contributor to Motorboats Monthly magazine.