Navigate a Sailboat
When you start sailing, you’ll navigate by looking where you want to go, and going there. Some people spend their whole sailing careers that way. But it’s a good idea to learn at least basic navigation—to be able to read a chart, plot a course and steer accurately by compass. It’s easy to learn, and you don’t need much in the way of math skills.
Steps
- Take a sailing course. The curriculum will include instruction on how to read a chart, plot a course, steer by compass, and more.
- Assemble a kit with essential navigation tools, especially if you’re going to rent boats. Few rentals have any navigation equipment other than a compass, and sometimes not even that.
- Buy a waterproof chart in the largest scale you can find. A large-scale chart covers a smaller geographical area, with lots more detail, than a small-scale chart. (The salesperson at the chandlery/store can help with this.)
- Find Parallel rules, which is two rulers, hinged together in such a way that they remain parallel when the distance between them is adjusted. Before sailing, use your parallel rules to determine the latitude and longitude of key locations—where you’re sailing from, places you might want to go, etc.—and write them on the chart. Draw lines between key points, too, with the magnetic bearings, in both directions, written on the lines. It’s easier to do this ashore than on the boat; you’ll learn how to do it in your learn-to-sail program.
- Learn how to read a hand-bearing compass, which is a simple compass fitted with a sight. You point it at a lighthouse, landmark, etc., and read the direction, or bearing, to that object off the compass. Take bearings of two or more objects, plot them on your chart and where the lines cross is your approximate location. You won’t be doing this if you carry a GPS (see below), but if your rental boat has no compass, the hand-bearing compass can serve for steering, too.
- Buy a simple, handheld GPS. Old salts say you should learn to pilot with chart, parallel rules and dividers (an instrument used for measuring and transferring distances), and that’s true— but on a small boat, with no space to lay out the chart, the wind blowing and the spray flying, the GPS makes a lot more sense. It will tell you where you are, what course you’re sailing and if you input the latitude/longitude coordinates of a destination (you can do this ashore), what heading you need to steer to get there, how far away it is, and your estimated time-of-arrival. It works at night and in the fog, too. Carry the GPS in a waterproof case, and always bring spare batteries.
Tips
- If you get into trouble, VHF is the fastest way to summon help. Nearby vessels, the Coast Guard, marine patrol, harbormaster and other authorities all monitor VHF channel 16. You can also receive weather reports and forecasts. Buy a basic waterproof model handheld VHF, and make sure the batteries are charged before each sail.
