Nic Compton – författare

Why will a sailor never go to sea on Friday 13th?Why are boats always referred to as 'she'?How do you navigate the ocean without a compass?Does the Bermuda Triangle really exist?Why do sailors wear earrings?Did Blackbeard actually exist?Did Nelson really say 'Kiss me, Hardy'?What is the correct way to bury a body at sea?Why is a rope never called a rope?This fascinating collection of maritime folklore and trivia delves into the history, science and culture of the sea, and is packed full of entertaining, surprising and insightful facts, from the delightfully obscure to the amusingly quaint, including everyday expressions that have their origins on board ship. It is a complete treasure trove for young and old alike.Topics include: sailors and superstitions; ships and shipbuilding; navigation and seamanship; pirates and smugglers; fish and fishermen; coasts and oceans; tides and weather; art and literature of the sea.

The definitive bible of every knot seafarers need to know, packed with step-by-step diagrams and photography. Featuring all the knots, hitches, bends, splices, whipping and decorative knotwork that you would find on a boat, this comprehensive guide will help sailors, climbers, anglers and all those who regularly use knotwork master essential skills.Over 200 knots are scored for strength, reliability, ease of tying (and untying) and usefulness. Step by step photographs show how to make each knot, and demonstrate how they can be used, such as in the rigging or for mooring boats. Interesting knot know-how sections give extra information about the knot's history, plus helpful tips and techniques, including choosing the right rope for the right task and using the right knot. As well as all the old standards the book also features quirky new knots like the Apple Pie knot.With a beautiful modern design, and highly illustrated with full colour photographs and instructive diagrams throughout, The Knot Bible remains accessible to all sailors of all levels of experience whilst still being the king of knot books. This second edition has been updated and improved throughout and now also features extra sections showing photographs of each knot category used in a practical nautical setting as well as new material on splicing double braid rope.

Capturing the disbelief, the chaos and the terror of the fateful night the Titanic sank 100 years ago, Titanic on Trial brings to life the tragedy through the voices of those whosurvived it. Stories about the sinking have becomelegendary - how the band played tothe end, how lifeboats were lowered half-empty - but amongst the films,novels and academic arguments, only those who were there canseparate truth from fiction. This book gives the story back to those people.After the sinking, inquiries into the loss of 1,517 lives were held in both the UK and US. The 1,000 or more pages of transcripts represent the most thorough and complete account of thesinking, told in the voices of those who were there. For the first time, these transcripts of the courtroom questions and answers have been specially edited and arranged chronologically, uncovering and drawing out the real drama ofthe Titanic's final night. Thewitnesses are transformed into characters in a much biggerstory, and the events are described from the perspectives of people inevery part of the ship, from a stoker in the boiler room escaping just before the watertight doors sealed behind him, to first classpassengers trying to buy their way onto lifeboats.This compelling book provides a unique insight into what really happened on the night, and the terrible, courageous, cowardly and tragic choices individuals had to make.

This beautifully produced compendium gives you a knot challenge for every day of the year. With hundreds to choose from, all colour coded by use, you can work through the book from start to finish, gradually building on your knowledge as you go, or alternatively dipping in and out for your daily knotting fix.Covers:- all the essential knots- useful hitches, bends, whippings and splices- handy knots for making outdoor items: plant hangers, harnesses, tree swings, rope ladder- mini knot craft projects: cool keyrings, friendship bracelets, belts, mats- magic 'trick' knots: escapology knots, vanishing knots, travelling knots- freestyle knots: have a go at the 'thrown bowline' (an old cowboy trick)- everyday fashion knots - new ways to tie your shoelaces, scarf, or even your tie!You won't escape this book without learning something, and you won't put it down without picking up an interesting fact or useful technique. Give it a month and you’ll be a knot tying fanatic; give it a year and you’ll be a knotting supremo!

Did you know that Nelson was pickled in brandy or that ships can get stuck in windless waters known as the Doldrums? The perfect book to dip or deep dive into, Nautical Wisdom is packed with facts about the oceans’ natural phenomena, its extraordinary flora and fauna, the ships that have sailed its oceans and seas, as well as stories about pirates and legends about mermaids. Readers will be immersed in all sorts of information ranging from the scientific and historic to the weird and fantastical – they can also learn how to make the perfect paper boat.

The rhythmic lullaby of ‘North Utsire, South Utsire’ has been lulling the nation’s insomniacs to sleep for over 90 years. It has inspired songs, poetry and imaginations across the globe – as well as providing a very real service for the nation’s seafarers who might fall prey to storms and gales. In 1995, a plan to move the late-night broadcast by just 12 minutes caused a national outcry and was ultimately scrapped.Published with Radio 4 and the Met Office, The Shipping Forecast is the official miscellany for seafarers and armchair travellers alike. From the places themselves – how they got their names, what’s happened there through the ages – to the poems and parodies that it’s inspired, this is a beautifully evocative tribute to one of Britain's – and Radio 4's – best-loved broadcasts.