Excerpted from The Art of Seamanship by Ralph Naranjo
In the book The Art of Seamanship, we discuss these keys to navigation which together form a baseline for both electronic and traditional pencil and paper chart navigation.
• Pay heed to the depthsounder.
• Use 7 x 50 binoculars.
• Understand the threat posed by a lee shore.
• Treat GPS and digital charting system (DCS) data with deep appreciation but constant skepticism.
• Practice with radar in good visibility to build your skill.
• Update the weather forecast daily, and monitor local VHF weather broadcasts.
• Carry paper charts and use them in conjunction with DCS equipment.
• Jot down fixes at regular intervals and note buoys passed.
• Carry Sailing Directions, Coast Pilots, cruising guides, a nautical almanac, and other publications.
• Use a bright spotlight at night to spot marks and obstacles.
• If crossing oceans, carry a sextant and calculator or sight reduction tables and a nautical almanac.
For additional advice and detail on navigation while under sail, purchase Ralph Naranjo’s The Art of Seamanship from Practical Sailor.
