Message from BoatU.S. Government Affairs re: GPS reliability

[Neil Gordon]

Take a few minutes out of your sail to pop off a fix, navigate by DR, work out a running fix, shoot a bow and beam bearing to compute distance off.

Easy to do when the wind is less than 10 knots and the seas are relatively calm. Harder as the wind pipes up, especially single handed. I'm more likely to use traditional methods* alone when all is quiet; less likely when I'm otherwise occupied.

* Note for purists... I do use electronics for depth, although I have a lead on board if all else fails.

Your "take a few minutes out of your sail" comment is a good one. You can shoot some bearings, plot them, make course adjustments, etc., in just about any conditions if you heave to first. It's literally just a few minutes.

All of that said, we sail for different reasons and enjoy different aspects of being on the water, including those who actually prefer working on boats on the hard. As in the thread on roller reffing... do you sail for the excitement and bury the rail or keep the boat on its feet? Two hands on the tiller and feet braced I'd rely on GPS. Put in a reef and roll up the genoa a bit and I might be tempted to navigate more traditionally.

[j2sailing]

Good points. In my mind, first and foremost, balancing a boat to keep her on her feet, rail out of the water, and helm light is the #1 priority when sailing in any weather - inshore or offshore. Boats sail better with less drag and a balanced boat equates into a less fatigued crew when the going gets tough.

I'm no purist, but I'm also not tied unconditionally to the electronics. As in balancing a boat, I believe the same can be achieved in electronic and traditional navigation methods--balance. Preparation ahead of time is the key.

A simple chart with pre-plotted courses lashed to a covered clipboard used along with the GPS or chart plotter provides a good start. That's because chart plotters do not give intimate detail when zooming. Soundings are spotty, land profiles are not well defined, and the small screen real estate creates the need to scroll with possible loss of orientation.

Thus, the need for a nautical chart in piloting waters. Something as simple as lashing a chart to an oversized clipboard and covered by a big ziplock works fine for me. Simple, easy to use. Pre plot courses ahead of time. Annotate shoals, primary aids to navigation, and other significant features. The key here is to have it in the cockpit with you. In my mind, that's simple sailing safety.

[Neil Gordon]

>>Pre plot courses ahead of time.<<

And erase the old ones. (Weird things happen when you're tired.)