Today, yachts are often equipped with radar, GPS, chart plotters, AIS, etc. This equipment has also become much more reliable, making it possible to make long offshore passages without a great knowledge of navigation. However, such equipment can be set up wrongly, interpreted incorrectly, malfunction or lose power. In these circumstances, knowledge of traditional navigation can become extremely important. This book will teach you how to navigate in the traditional way using compass, log and plotter; and also how to navigate using electronic aids like GPS, radar and chart plotter. In addition, you will learn some basic celestial navigation using the sun and stars to obtain your position using sextant, almanacs, tables and a watch. Each method of navigation is explained alongside detailed illustrations and examples, combining to make a straightforward and easy-to-follow guide.
Introduction
Contents
TRADITIONAL NAVIGATION: How charts are created, Latitude and longitude, Position, Using charts, Variation and deviation, Steering compass, Logs and echosounders, Plotting implements, Leeway and current, Handbearing compasses, Dead reckoning / bearings, Miscellaneous, Sailing at night, IALA buoyage system, Tide and tidal currents, Navigation lights, Summary
ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION: GPS, GPS – how does it work?, GPS receivers, Using the GPS receiver, Chart plotters, Using the chart plotter, Waypoints and routes, Display setup, Receiver setup, Radar, Range / bearing discrimination, Radar operation, Adjusting the radar, Radar problems, Display setup, Collision avoidance, AIS
CELESTIAL NAVIGATION: The sun’s geographic position, Astronomical model, Principles of celestial navigation, Hour angles, Noon sight, Measuring sun’s altitude, UTC, zone and standard time, Working a sight, Sight reduction sheet, Taking the noon sight, Plotting position lines, Finding lat. and long. directly, Corrections, Stars, Polaris (North Star), Using a calculator
Appendix: Tables & formulae.
