‘Why seamanship is more than just the mastery of sailing’ – Nikki Henderson

Is good seamanship just about skill on the water? Or is there more to it if you want to be considered a true master of your craft?

Red Ruby came within seconds of winning the 2023 Middle Sea Race overall. Photo: Kurt Arrigo/Rolex

What is seamanship? The Oxford dictionary defines seamanship as ‘the skill, technique or practice of handling a ship at sea’. But the more I’ve dug into it, I’ve realised seamanship has just about as many definitions as there are captains.

The word seamanship has been used since the 1700s.