Passage Planning

[GHA]

Surely even Solent sailors go beyond the Needles from time to time.

I'm sure they go much further than that
(there were a couple of wine winks in the post, not meant to be taken too seriously )

As for passage planning, solo on an "average" tidal passage would see some way points and cts & distances in marker pen written on a piece of perspex between the companionway and chart table easy to see from the cockpit. Also on a piece of paper usually vts channels & marina channels for Vhf. Plus any relevant tide times.


For more pilot age type of things, I tried the east coast pilots method on a passage through the swale last year which worked quite well.

 

[Dill et Bound]

Yes I suppose now its all about regulation.. SOLAS V .. Like the Halcyon dropbox.. and what do you class as own turf so to speak...
I have a great respect for the sea, and that is hard learnt..
When I first started passage planning in the early 70s the plan was to get there in one piece..
Thats because you navigated with old style Admiralty Charts, not the cleaned up yachtsman charts we use today.
No GPS updating your position within a few metres every 20 secs or so.
No AIS or apps giving you names of ships approaching you from all angles, Shipping lanes were a bit hap Hazard to say the least
No DSC radio.
No Radar.
Nowhere to divert to, Lots of ports did nt allow for yachts, very few marinas. Pile moorings or Anchor off..
Shipping forecast on the home service 4 times a day, which allowed you ample time to look at, and try to work out what may or may not happen..
No cosy water proof layered clothing, with built in self inflating lifejacket, harness, and MOB detector..

And because we have all this, more of us feel safe to venture forth, beyond perhaps our home turf..
And thats why it needs to be regulated, And thats why you Can nowdays produce a sensible passage plan..

Somebody asked me once why I always look at my watch when I passed through the marina gate. Time Distance Run..
At the first opportunity in the old days I would warm up the Sailor Set and check the Loop.
Grab the hand Bearing Compass.
Make sure the Deviation cards were on the chart table.
Mark the page on the tidal atlas, and sharpen my pencil..
And if going off home turf check the sextant..

Things have changed a lot.
The type of yacht that we put to sea in, Lets not go there!!!!! and everything else....
RIP Percy Blandford who designed the first Canoe I ventured forth in aged 10 .. Bon Voyage Mate !....

 

[franksingleton]

I'm sure they go much further than that
(there were a couple of wine winks in the post, not meant to be taken too seriously )
…….

I am never good at reading smilies. Will try harder next time.

 

[Babylon]

Yes I suppose now its all about regulation.. SOLAS V .. Like the Halcyon dropbox.. and what do you class as own turf so to speak...
I have a great respect for the sea, and that is hard learnt..
When I first started passage planning in the early 70s the plan was to get there in one piece..
Thats because you navigated with old style Admiralty Charts, not the cleaned up yachtsman charts we use today.
No GPS updating your position within a few metres every 20 secs or so.
No AIS or apps giving you names of ships approaching you from all angles, Shipping lanes were a bit hap Hazard to say the least
No DSC radio.
No Radar.
Nowhere to divert to, Lots of ports did nt allow for yachts, very few marinas. Pile moorings or Anchor off..
Shipping forecast on the home service 4 times a day, which allowed you ample time to look at, and try to work out what may or may not happen..
No cosy water proof layered clothing, with built in self inflating lifejacket, harness, and MOB detector..

And because we have all this, more of us feel safe to venture forth, beyond perhaps our home turf..
And thats why it needs to be regulated, And thats why you Can nowdays produce a sensible passage plan..

Somebody asked me once why I always look at my watch when I passed through the marina gate. Time Distance Run..
At the first opportunity in the old days I would warm up the Sailor Set and check the Loop.
Grab the hand Bearing Compass.
Make sure the Deviation cards were on the chart table.
Mark the page on the tidal atlas, and sharpen my pencil..
And if going off home turf check the sextant..

Things have changed a lot.
The type of yacht that we put to sea in, Lets not go there!!!!! and everything else....
RIP Percy Blandford who designed the first Canoe I ventured forth in aged 10 .. Bon Voyage Mate !....

A salutary reminder, thanks.

 

[SimonFa]

As a professional sailor I consider passage planning to be essential. Whether formalised and written down, or just considered in our heads, it is clear that we all do it to one degree or another...

Aside from the legal aspect I think a good passage plan can also help with crew morale (it shows that the route has been considered and clearly lays out useful and relevant information - keeping everyone in the loop). It certainly helps if the authorities come on board, it helps you to get maximum benefit from tide and weather and in the event of something going wrong or conditions changing it helps the Skipper to quickly consider alternative options.

If anyone is interested in seeing (or using) the proforma I use then please follow this link:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/45798489/Passage Plan Pro Forma.pdf

Pete

Thanks, that looks very useful. I've added that to my list of docs etc that I've picked up on YM theory and other places and I'll certainly use it on passages I haven't done before if only to make sure I've considered everything.