11 Keys to Navigation

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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.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him at darrellnicholson.com.