Essential Coastal Navigation

Next Course:  TBC

The aim of the course is to enable participants to plan and develop navigational tools to undertake coastal journeys in moderate sea conditions. Following the training participants will be able:

  • To know the different resources available to them to plan coastal journeys. (i.e. Pilots, almanacs, sailing directions, charts and other digital available data).
  • To know how to interpret and apply data from the various resources to aid them in trip planning.
  • To be able to plan a coastal journey and have taken into account weather, tide and other anticipated hazard
  • To source, apply and interpret a marine forecast.
Course Content:

Weather:

  • Cause and effect of weather systems and fronts
  • Beaufort scale
  • Sea state
  • Sources of forecasts
  • Obtaining and interpreting a marine forecast
  • Tide
  • Cause of tides, springs/ neaps / equinotical tides
  • Tide tables
  • Tidal streams and sources of information on tidal streams
  • Rule of 12ths and 3rds
  •  Awareness and predicting tidal anomalies
  • Using proformas for tidal calculations

Charts:

  • Plotting positions
  • Scales and measurements
  • Buoyage and lights
  • Magnetic variations
  • Tidal diamonds
  • Using tides in conjunction with GPS

Pilotage:

  • Layout and sourcing information in coastal pilot / sailing directions / almanacs
  • Shortcomings of the above for kayaking
  • Identifying and transferring relevant data for kayaking

Trip Planning:

  • Various considerations to consider when planning a trip, e.g. timing, group ability, weather, environmental / local factors, logistics….
  • Calculating ETAs and ETDs from looking at tide gates and other crux points.
  • Planning with reference to HW
  • Identifying suitable pilotage features, e.g. transits, etc.
  • Planning from the deck and how to calculate EPs and use DR

 

 

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Advanced Coastal Navigation

The aim of the programme is to enable participants to plan and develop navigational tools to undertake open water crossings or prolonged coastal journeys in moderate to rough sea conditions with tidal complexities or limited escape options. Following the training participants will be able:

  • To apply the relevant knowledge and information in planning a trip in areas of tidal races / overfalls , open crossings or areas with limited escape options.
  • To develop their knowledge to navigate on the water using advanced pilotage techniques in poor visibility or in hours of darkness.
  • To know how to interpret and apply data from the various resources to aid them in trip planning
  • To be able to plan an advanced marine journey and have taken into account weather, tide and other anticipated hazards.
  • Understand the priorities of the rescue services in an emergency situation.
Course Content:

Weather:

  • Additional knowledge to the coastal navigation course other
  • Recognising effects of change through observations (e.g. cross-section through a front)
  • Knowledge of the marine forecasts

Tides:

  • Using proformas for tidal calculations
  • Cause and effect of meteorological conditions on tidal range

Tidal Planning:

  • Course to steer
  • Use of GPS for SOG
  • Calculating SOG from the charts

Charts:

  • Tidal diamonds
  • Using tides in conjunction with GPS

Trip Planning:

  • Various considerations to consider when planning a trip a trip in advanced sea conditions, e.g. timing, group ability, weather, environmental / local factors, logistics….
  • Calculating ETAs and ETDs from looking at tide gates and other crux points.
  • Planning with reference to HW and tidal stream changes
  • Planning and escape routes or alternatives with in the overall plan
  • Utilising tidal stream atlases and tidal diamonds with computation of rates tables.
  • GPS roses