Passage planning - practicalities

[Gordonmc]

Much as I dislike enforced beaurocracy, I have come round to the inevitability of passage planning and can see some sense, especially as much of my sailing is single handed.

But on my Day Skipper course at least there was no indication of what form such planning should take. I have a laminated copy of the PBO checklist on board, principally because it has distress signals on the back. What I could do with is a steer from the great and good of the forum about a format.

In ignorance I have been stuffing a poly-pocket with print-outs of tidal predictions and weather charts for the period I am sailing, plus a print of a chart with some way-points. In reality I am likely to change my mind about destinations according to mood swing, wind direction and a lot of other factors.

Am I just dumb to think a standard form of passage plan would help mutts like me and at the same time make better sense to the authorities who say we should all have passage plans on board?

Discuss.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

FWIW, I write down in an exercise book in which everything boaty goes:

HW & LW times at both ends of the passage, plus the range.
CTS from departure point (usually Bembridge Ledge or The Bridge for a Solent sailor like me).
Distance to run, subdivided into hours with the assumed boat speed, and with an estimate of tidal set and speed at the end of each hour taken from the tidal atlas.
The net tidal set and speed (add up all the hourly ones) to get an offset.
The weather forecast, plus any updates en-route.
If the course looks like it is to windward, I also calculate tacking bearings for the destination.
If the primary or secondary destinations are closed at certain states of tide, I'll also note down when access is available.
The size, shape, posn and light characteristics of any land or seamarks I'm likely to see.

CAVEAT - but I wouldn't actually bother with all of this on a passage I'm familiar with like Solent - Weymouth. Then all I'd note down are tide times and heights and the metcast.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Evadne]

In case the Great and Good don't come up with any suggestions, here's mine:
My passage planning consists of writing down HW times and when the stream is with/agin us, as I can never remember them, also the most recent forecast and where I'm going. For sailing in home waters that's it.
On long X-channel trips I try and work out a couple of possible strategies depending on our speed and for a complicated trip I'll write down several courses to steer, to save time working them out en route.
After that we are on passage and planning gives way to pilotage and navigation, so any change of plan deemed important enough would go in the log and "planning" is more a matter of chartwork. Similarly any forecasts or nav. warnings received en route.
I don't use GPS for general navigation, although I tend to switch it on more and more these days so I should probably add "putting in waypoints where necessary" to the above.

I think the problem with a pro-forma is like the RYA yachtmaster bit on passage planning: it has to cover every voyage and eventuality which is unrealistic and ultimately unhelpful. If you write down what you need to know and keep some form of log and chart plot, that should be enough. After a few trips it becomes obvious what you need to know, because you keep on having to look it up or work it out. And you can always look back at previous log entries to remind yourself.
Hope this is helpful
Dave


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[NigeCh]

It\'s all tosh ....

The original words on paper were 'Heybridge >> Plymouth'

The reality (August/September 2002) was Heybridge to Makkum to Lelystad to Ijmuiden to Chichester (Phoned wife to let her know where I am not and that I'd been rescued by the Selsey Lifeboat) to La Coruna to Malaga. (Phoned wife to ask for funds to get me home. [She declined])

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jimi]

Must admit I do similar, with perhaps the tidal implications of an alternative destination if the winds not quite where I want it to be eg I once set off to go to Alderney but the wind was heading us too much so we went to St Vaast instead.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sybarite]

In addition to what the others have written I woould have a list of fall-back destinations (making sure I had the charts to cover these) in case of unforeseen weather changes or boat troubles.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[claymore]

I find that running a double entry book-keeping system works really well and keeps my passage planning and log keeping skills really sharp.
I don't want to appear a bumblie or a wuss to anyone who boards Claymore wearing badges of rank and office so if I want to go to Oban but the tide and wind won't let me, I keep the log up as if they did but then run a secondary one which probably has me down in Craighouse or wherever I've ended up.
Add to this a slightly glazed look, a tad of froth in the corners of the mouth and they soon leave you alone.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[l'escargot]

There is no standard format because every trip is different, it is entirely up to the individual what they base their plan on. There is absolutely no requirement for any form of written document.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sybarite]

There was this snail which decided to take up car-racing. The organizers, a bit taken aback, decided to let him try provided that the others were able to recognize his car. So they painted a big "S" on the side of it. Along came the Grand Prix day and Murray Walker was commenting.

From the last line the snail steadily made his way up the field and by the end of the first lap was hard on the heals of the Shoe Maker.

Murray Walker was heard to yell "Look at that S car go...!!! "

John


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Spacewaist]

1 Times and heights of tides of relevant Standard Ports (for whole cruise usually)
2 Times and general direction of relevant tidal streams and tidal gates (by reference to HW eg W going tide in the W Solent is at about HW Portsmouth -1)
3 Times of access to my chosen destination, an alternative and my bolt hole.
4 Distance to run and broad ETA at 6 knots
5 If I have got to beat - I change my destination.
6 Departure time and log time and log at "jump off" mark. (eg The Bridge)

Less than half a page of data for a long week end. Much easier than wrestling with an Almanac every other hour or so. Any more data is over complicated and likely redundant.


<hr width=100% size=1>A pontification from the Panjandrum of orotund bloviation AD2003

 

[charles_reed]

Re: It\'s all tosh ....

Must make the most of favourable winds/depressions, no doubt.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

Don't know about bureaucracy - reckon the only thing Community bureaucrats know how to do is drive a directive.

On short simple passages - less than 60M, I just note HW/LW times at departure and destination and note the probable point of sailing.
From this and the distance I compute ETA using a conservative 4.5 knots for a beat and 6 knots for offwind.

On more complex passages, say Pwllhelli to Audierne, I put down the start/finish of favourable streams for each of the tidal gates (in this case St Davids Head, Smalls, Longships, le Four Banc, Raz de Sein), with alternate stop-over anchorages for each gate if any are missed. I then plan the probable ETRs at each of the gates and at the TSS I'll have to cross or touch on the way using the same average speeds.

In the Med, there are no tidal streams to be allowed for - but currents are set up, dependent on the prevailing wind direction - instead the fluky winds and aggressive seas make continual trimming a necessity and the amount and indiscipline of the commercial traffic make a continual watch a necessity.

As a single hander I try to keep my passages to less than 40 hours, after that hallucinations and impaired judgement make it frankly dangerous to keep going.
If I'm arriving at a gate/destination early, I'll heave-to and get some kip or feed myself.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[beneteau_305_553]

If the bureaucracy you refer to is the solas V regs they only apply to vessels built after July 1 2002.

<hr width=100% size=1>Richard

 

[BrendanS]

Passage planning under Solas V applies to all boats.

You are thinking of fitting Radar reflectors which only applies to boats built after that date.

<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide

 

[Cornishman]

If you are worried about conforming to SOLAS Chapter V then call the MCA on 023 8032 9146 and ask for their very good leaflet SOLAS V for Pleasure Craft which lists the things you should 'particulary take into ccount when planning a boating trip'. If you did your Day Skipper SB theory last winter you should have had one in your pack.
Parts of Chapter V apply to small, privately owned pleasure craft and according to the leaflet the regulations described therein apply to everybody no matter when their boat was registered.
The full SOLAS V text is available at www.mcga.gov.uk/publications/SITE


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BrendanS]

The part in the leaflet about radar reflectors is only legally applicable to boats built after 1/7/02. I have had this confirmed by MCA. The advice is that regardless of legal requirements, all boats should try to fit a radar reflector.

<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide

 

[charles_reed]

SOLAS Ch V

Amendment V28, current from June this year:-

Commercial vessels, exceeding 500 tonnes, on passages exceeding 48 hours in international waters, have to report position every 24 hours to the owners.
This is to remind owners of their responsibility to report an accurate position to MRSCC, in the event of distress working.
Seems a little like overkill when one has:
1. DSC vhf, with GPS interface.
2. 406 EPIRB with COMSAT/SARSAT position-fixing. and
3. If outside Zone A, SSB with DSC.

In due course this will probably be applied to leisure vessels, so I suspect we'll have to lodge passage plans, just as one has to file flight plans.

Certainly in UK waters, I've always (outside categorised waters) informed the local CG of destination and ETA - they've usually asked be to confirm arrival with the local MRCC or by SSB.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[NigeCh]

Realities ...

Charles ... My original post was a sortof spoof, but it wasn't. It was a trite reply to something that is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly, so I'll expand:

I always make passage plans beforehand. For daysails they consist of an intended destination, sypnotic chart printouts for the next few days, any tidal gates and times, crew names with contact phone numbers and any other info that is relevent. The CG is not informed.

For ocean passages the plan is much the same as above but the pre-planning notes which are in the waterproof Passage Plan wallet are much longer as it includes provisioning, chart numbers, a list of necessary spare parts, etc. and a boat inspection check list. The CG is informed.

Passage planning is researched well before departure date. For day sails or short passages in the UK/Ireland waters it starts about 7 days before departure and then is updated prior to depature. For ocean sails, the research starts many months in advance and depends on whether it is a delivery, race or just a plain cruise. A key aspect of ocean sails is to have a list of SSB channels for general cruising communications and weather fax downloads. So the passage plan and general info overlap - but they are still in the same wallet if they are specific to the passage. All other info goes into the boat wallet.

Prior to departure the passage plan is summarised and entered into to boats log. It is updated as necessary during the passage by the log entries which are minimally twice a day.

I think that SOLAS V's passage plan requirement for small boats is part of an expanding safety scheme that is being confounded by burocrats who are losing sight of sailing objectivity as they are trying to create a universal document for all ships of all sizes - I don't see how they can compound this for say a Wayfarer making a 4 day passage with a mega-tonne tanker on a commercial run with a cruise liner etc. I think SOLAS V should be split into at least 3 parts: Small Liesure, Small commercial and large commercial. It's already difficult enough to work out what needs to be ignored for small liesure vessels ... and with the new amendments already arriving it's becoming a document that's growing like topsy and getting even more confused in trying to work out all the cross referencing. (The neatest document for sailors, IMO, is IRPCS because it's concise.)

OK, that turned into a ramble ... It's because the suject is huge and overlaps/interacts with so many other areas.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[TheBoatman]

Re: Realities ...

NigeCH
That seems very sensible to me. I always adopt the following, short passage - short plan -long passage, long plan. but everyone should remember that under Solas V you have to have (legally) a passage plan, and a copy of the lifesaving signals aboard as a minimum.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[qsiv]

Seems emminently sensible - I do something similar.

I cant help feeling though that the regs represent a triumph of pedantry over common sense. Is it truly going to be necessary for the X's out of Lymington to do this for each race? WHat about the dinghies at Hamble, Lepe, Lee and all the other locations? I'm sure all will read the forecast and make a mental note of HW time (or more likely when the tide will turn on their course). But a passage plan for a race (or jolly) and then home. It's crass....

<hr width=100% size=1>