2008 REED’s East Coast Edition - Planning
time to sail between ports, much less stop an outward line from a lighthouse at an
and enjoy them or account for delays due to angle that separates safe water from shoal
weather or other circumstances. To estab- water. Note the compass bearing of the line.
lish a sensible schedule, start by measuring When approaching those waters underway,
the rhumblines of the track to be taken, and a quick glance at the chart and compass will
make conservative estimates of how long it confirm whether the boat is in safe water.
will take to travel that distance. If sailing,
Prepping your GPS
be certain to account for additional time
spent close-hauled when sailing to an up-
Every modern GPS unit is equipped with a
wind destination. Knowing your vessel’s real
variety of valuable features; setting them up
capabilities—and, if sailing, what the boat’s
ahead of time simplifies navigation under-
true speed will be on all points of sail under
way. Read the user’s manual and learn how
all potential wind and sea conditions—is key
to establish waypoints—before you set out,
to creating a proper and workable itinerary.
and once underway—and build routes spe-
Once a rough course line is laid out, con-
cific to your planned itinerary. The GPS re-
sider the many other factors that may influ-
ceiver can also be used to identify hazardous
ence departure and arrival times, such as
waters. Most units can be programmed with
tides and currents, bridge and lock opening
a proximity alarm or will audibly announce
schedules, and any specific local navigation
arrival within a set distance from a waypoint.
restrictions. Consult the piloting section
Learn to employ the device’s cross-track er-
of REED’s beginning on page XXX to learn
ror feature to identify clear, open waters.
about specific local features that may influ-
Other tools
ence the planned schedule, and refer to the
Although GPS has become the predomi-
tide and current tables beginning on page
nate onboard navigation tool, there are a
xxx for the departure and destination ports
number of others that a prudent navigator
and any notable locations in between.
will employ to provide a measure of safety
Tide and current tables are reflections of
and gather information above and beyond
naturally flowing water. Although exact times
what a GPS provides. In the hands of an
are provided for high and low tides, as well as
experienced operator, radar is an invaluable
max currents and slack water, these represent
electronic tool for navigation and colli-
pinpoints on diagrams that are often fairly
sion avoidance. A simple depthsounder, in
narrow sloping curves. The areas where wa-
conjunction with a chart, can be a highly
ter suddenly flushes at a specific moment are
useful component in coastal piloting and
few and far between. In most places, the dif-
navigation. And while the importance of
ference within 15-30 minutes on either side
an accurate compass is becoming less vital
of the times listed will be barely noticeable to
in the electronic age, knowing how to use a
the cruising yachtsman. Specific places where
compass to take bearings is critical to basic
tidal currents are extreme and hazardous are
coastal navigation. The self-sufficient sea-
noted in the piloting section.
man will have basic piloting tools and skills
Prepping your Charts at hand should his electronic aids fail in
Marking up charts in advance with the in-
any given situation. For more piloting and
formation that’ll be required once underway
coastal navigation, see the Navigation sec-
will greatly aid in navigation. Use a high-
tion beginning on p. XXX.
lighter, or the “area select” tool on a digital
Picking your Ports
chart, to denote danger areas such as buffer
Prior to departure, choose your intended
zones around rocks and the shore, shoal wa-
ports of call but also identify some addition-
ters with depths shallower than the draft of
al ports and harbors along the route that can
your boat, and so on. Highlighting these ar-
offer safe haven in the event of an emergency
eas will underscore the hazards they present.
or deteriorating weather. The characteristics
Likewise, select visible landmarks or navi-
of a safe harbor can vary from boat to boat;
gation aids on the chart that can serve as
a 25-footer and a 150-footer have vastly
danger bearings. A danger bearing is sim-
different requirements. Using REED’s and
ply a visual bearing line that should not be
your charts, assess which locations your boat
crossed. For example, on your chart extend
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