7. Engines Off, Stars On — Tom Cunliffe on Seamanship, Self-Reliance & his thriller Hurricane Force
November 14, 2025 · 28 min · 2K views
What this video covers
Yachtsman and author Tom Cunliffe advocates for traditional celestial navigation and engine-free sailing as essential methods for building self-reliance. Reflecting on his early experiences in the 1970s aboard a 1903 Colin Archer boat, he describes the challenges of navigating without modern electronics, including a nine-day beat to the mouth of the Dragon in the Caribbean. He argues that modern reliance on GPS and engine-assisted marina maneuvers dilutes the fundamental experience of seamanship and the satisfaction of making a precise landfall. Cunliffe contrasts this with his current professional work, which includes writing for the Marine Electronics Journal and authoring the yachting thriller *Hurricane Force*. He emphasizes that true adventure requires a sailor to be entirely responsible for their vessel and position, noting that the absence of constant connectivity—unlike modern systems like Starlink—defined the era of his early voyages. He is currently developing a sequel to his novel, maintaining his focus on the intersection of technical seamanship and storytelling.
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