Passage Planning

[TheBoatman]

To take account of SOLAS V regs, I offer the following senario:
1. 32 foot sailing boat
2. Crew of 3 adult males, all experienced.
3. Passage Rochester to Ramsgate.
4. HW Sheerness 11.00 hrs
5. Date? June 2004.

Question:
What passage plan would you record, where, how and with whom?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BrendanS]

Have the crew done this pasage before? Successfully? Are you aware of the possible difficulties you could face enroute, and are prepared for them. Where could you go aground, where are safe havens enroute.

Passage plan already filed here - tides checked. Just need weather forecast nearer to the time

I don't know that area, so no idea if there is a trick question here with regards to tide and time, but passage planning is just common sense.

You don't need to file a passage plan with anyone, you just need proof if anything goes wrong that you had taken reasonable precautions and planned for reasonable contigencies. If you wish, you can file your passage with the Coastguard, and if sensible will have registered a CG66 with them giving details of your vessel and shore based contacts.

I know you are experienced, so why the question?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[AndCur]

Do the chart prep before you leave have all the waypoints already plotted on the charts and in the GPS. Make sure you have checked the crusing guides for the area etc. Plot your position at least every hour and keep a record in your log book along with bearing direction and log reading.Before leaving double check the weather and file a PR with the coast guard. Its also a good idea to have food already prepared in advance.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[AndrewB]

Planning? Why!

A very simple daylight passage for a normal 32' yacht, in all conditions except strong winds between NE and SE. With experienced people and a decent chart aboard it requires only the most rudimentary planning. I'd aim to leave on the first of the ebb arriving off North Foreland at low water so as to take the flood around to Ramsgate. But as the only places the tide runs strong is through the Medway entrance and off North Foreland, no harm in bucking the tide part of the way if you felt like it.

Why the question?

 

[martinwoolwich]

Re: Passage Planning - another question

Just as a matter of interest, would a plotted route on an electronic chartplotter be deemed satisfactory for that element of the of the regs (ie not including tides, weather, port of safe refuge etc.) or must the route be seen to have been plotted on a paper chart. And before you all yell at me this is just a question so don't start on at me about bad practice - what if your power goes? what if the satelites fall out of the sky, sunspots etc.etc.etc.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[duncan]

Re: Passage Planning - another question

'deemed satisfactory for that part of the regs' - not sure which part you mean.
Generally having suitable charts on board would be considered appropriate as clearly would be tidal information. The issue of paper charts v electronic is I think what you are driving at and it remains generally recomended that paper charts are on board as well and that the electronic chart is no 'substitute'. However at some point the line must get crossed by some level of duplication / redundancy cover (systems/power/charts) but probably not on the average pleasure vessel! I emphasise that we are talking charts not necessarily chart plotters here.
There is no requirement to plot a route on paper or electronic chart - when leaving Cherbourg last month in a yacht our 'route' was to steer 210 on the Compass and our position was then logged enroute and plotted both electronically and on paper.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[l'escargot]

None and nobody.

Discuss with crew and provided you are all confident in the weather, the boat and your abilities to make the passage safely, set off.

There is no regulation that says you must keep a record or tell anyone.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[graham]

Ithink that the new SOLAS regs do require a passage plan to be written but its not neccessary for a pleasure yacht not carrying paying passagengers to file the re[port with anyone.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Robin]

Re: Passage Planning - another question

<when leaving Cherbourg last month in a yacht our 'route' was to steer 210 on the Compass>

Ouch, must have been a bumpy ride overland to Jersey, did you get the ferry from there?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[duncan]

Re: Passage Planning - another question

some typos just dont stand up to scurtiny do they Robin!

closer to 021 maybe - sorry for the error

overall memories hazy but it was in that direction.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[iangrant]

Re: Passage Planning - another question

Well, we ran aground on the way out so why not try on the way back as well?
Joking aside:

We steered 025 degrees, on a passage plan including:
Time of Departure
Tidal height at ETA destination (Chichester Bar)
Tidal Streams Channel- (East and West going and compensated to shape CTS)
Weather Forecast
Crew comfort, stores etc..
Bolt holes (either side of Channel).
Crew brief.

All written out before we left.

A) No plan required if nothing goes wrong
B) Plan required if it goes wrong and you as Skipper are in a courtroom.

Ian





<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[iangrant]

Re: Passage Planning - another question

Cor blimey Duncan, you stood in front of the bloody compass for long enough!

Grin..

Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Robin]

Re: Passage Planning - another question

Sorry, couldn't resist it!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Robin]

Re: Passage Planning - another question

We have a pre-printed spreadsheet form, made many years ago on the computer, for X-Channel or long trips with spaces for ETA on board, Estd departure, ETA destination, HW times both local and Dover or other Std Port, for tide rates/directions for each hour +/- HW Dover (or other) and corrected fig for the day, ETA shipping lanes, ETA clear of lanes, moonrise/set, sunrise/set etc. Using this it takes about 5 minutes to calculate a course to steer for Poole/Cherbourg where the streams are more or less at 90 degs to our course and with a distance of 60 mls 1ml offset left/rght is one deg +/- on the course.
Local trip notes are written down in my head, with WPs loaded from routes set in both electronic plotters.
Other than having a pre-printed form (which was for my own speed/convenience not any SOLAS reg) I imagine that is what most people do and I'm not intending any changes!
The log book is filled in only on X-Channel/long trips, but after the event we do have a 'Diary' type narrative log which will have pics etc added and all sorts of useful info like mooring fees charged, resaurant reviews etc. Positions are put on the chart occasionally via Yeoman, but are continuously tracked on both plotters (each independent and on separate battery banks).
Otherwise I also might write down any critical tide gate times, weather forecasts and channels/times for French VHF if there etc.
We carry both British (PBO) almanacs and French (Votre Livre De Bord), pilots and all the relevant paper charts so required info if not formally written down is there to find quickly.
If that ain't enough then tough-SOLAS I'm moving!


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BrendanS]

I>>think that the new SOLAS regs do require a passage plan to be written<<


This has been done to death so many times before. It is not required to have a written plan of any sort. Especially if it's a trip you know well, where a check of tide tables and weather is all that is needed. If you're venturing to places unknown, then proof of your planning would be advisable just in case you had an accident and are investigated.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Re: Passage Planning - another question

Solas V says you have to have a plan but says nothing about how good the plan should be, also it only applies outside categorised waters. So I can leave the river Crouch bound for the Medway in the summer without any plan. This involves a passage on a route with a great abundance of sand banks and one of the busiest shipping channels in Britain. I can even do it at night ho hum. I would have thought more accidents occur inside categorised waters than outside but what do I know!
You said the 3 crew are all experienced, guess that did not include the Solas V regs /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
Have a safe trip.
Trevor

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[l'escargot]

You will not find mention of any form of written record with regards to passage planning in the regs.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[andy_wilson]

Circle the tides of the day in the almanac and make sure the right chart is on the table. Lick finger and note strength and direction of wind in log.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[graham]

"This has been done to death"

So sorry....Apparently only your interpretation counts?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BrendanS]

Who said it was my interpretation?

Look at the MCA and RYA websites. I also phoned the RYA legal bods on behalf of the club I belong to as we were concerned about club activities. The advice given was very clear. Written plans are not necessary if the trip is within your experience level.

<hr width=100% size=1>