Useful passage plan format and check sheets

[oldfatgit]

I have spent some time developing the attached, which I provide to all to use, change, plagiarise and publish as you wish. It is based on a number of other passage plan formats including that given in Reeds. I provide it, therefore, free to all and sundry and suggest that it would be inappropriate, and probably leaving yourself open to some form of litigation, if you were to publish it yourselves with a view to earning money.

I have used it in anger and found it to be a good way to work up a plan, taking most important factors into consideration. Also the check sheet has saved me forgetting something important on my boat, yours will be, of course, different.

Obviously, I cannot be held liable if you come a cropper as a result of using the format. If you do then that is down to your own seamanship and not my document.

Finally, if anybody wishes share any improvements I'm open to suggestions.

(Edit: It appears that the file has failed to upload. Wait out and I'll keep trying)

(2nd Edit: Sorry all, cannot get the file down to a small enough size save as a .odt which cannot be uploaded. If you want a copy then PM me and I'll send a .pdf by e-mail)

 

[Lady Campanula]

"No plan survives first contact with the enemy" - von Moltke

Edit: ( Note to self - 'Do something useful or helpful instead of not....' )

Er, no claims, caveats or other bulsh......

 

[Searush]

Wot's a Passage Plan when it's at home?

I go where she says she wants to go - unless I can convince her it's too dangerous or uncomfy. If on my own I sail round in circles for the hell of it. Or motor up & down the Straits to annoy the local MoBo Mafia.

 

[Lady Campanula]

Wot's a Passage Plan when it's at home?

I refer the Honourable Gen'lman to the Hansar' I gave earlier...... #2

Besides, our Elders and Betters insist that we give due cognisance to the provisions of SOLAS V. That translates, for me as a soi disant professional, into ensuring that I have the requisite little bits of paper on board.

Yes, yes, yes. I'm well aware that waving an RYA Dazed Kipper sustificate at an approaching storm-front will not quiet the winds and waves, but I do know that flapping a copy of the MCA's 'V/29 Life Saving Signals' at an officious 'fficial can deflect expensive ire when one has done sumpthing - or not done sumpthing - said official deems essential to the continued smooth turning of the planet.

Similarly, proferring a package of Yotmeister-Ocean, VHF/DSC Certificate to Operate, Insurance Schedule, Exalted Yot Club Membership Card and Warrant to Wear a Blue Ensign, all in a neat-and-tidy respectable, crested blue folder to a Portly Portugee Policeman is likely to produce squeaks of pleasure and satisfaction - and not outrage - at one's evident willingness to 'play the game'.

Then, business done and honour satisfied, one can produce the bottle and offer a small digestif - or whatever it's called on the Congtinong.

A Passage Plan is but one small facet of the 'great game' of keeping the furrin' 'fficials in their place.

 

[Searush]

AFAIK there is NO REQUIREMENT for a physical paper passage plan on leisure boats. As long as you have thought about what you are doing, where you are going, what might need to be dealt with & have a plan in mind to deal with same, than you have satisfied the requirements of SOLAS (is that correct quango?)

Anyway, while a long or complicated passage may benefit from a few pencilled notes, I see little benefit is spending hours filling in pages of reports to cover things that may or may not happen on the regular afternoon jolly to the local pub/ beach/ anchorage of choice.

Of course I forget stuff from time to time - so I do without, or make alternative arrangements. It isn't rocket science, we are not piloting supertankers and going aground is generally just a minor inconvenience rather than an ecological disaster or mass casualty tragedy.

Please feel free to fill in as many forms as you like & conduct reams of complex calculations: I shall have a look at the tide tables, make a few simple mental calculations & set off with a chart handy in case of need. If there are likely to be changes of plan, I will jot a few tide gate times on the relevant bit of the chart so I don't need to look it up again (remembering to erase them at the end of the day)

 

[Rowana]

. . . .Then, business done and honour satisfied, one can produce the bottle and offer a small digestif - or whatever it's called on the Congtinong.

A Passage Plan is but one small facet of the 'great game' of keeping the furrin' 'fficials in their place.

That's the trouble with goin' "Overseas", the Congtinong is full o' effin' furriners!

 

[westernman]

My passage plan is

Leave the marina then one of:-

1) Turn left
2) Turn right
3) go straight ahead

Mallorca is too far away for a day sail (3) so it comes down to 1 or 2.
The Costa Brava is more interesting than Languedoc Rousillon, so that leaves number 1 which means I will need to change courtesy flags later in the day.

 

[Sinc]

Thank you OFG for sharing your work with us all. Shared knowlege and tools are a mainstay of boating (IMHO).
Whether people decide to use it or not is up to them but certainly no reason to diminish your efforts.

 

[Searush]

Thank you OFG for sharing your work with us all. Shared knowlege and tools are a mainstay of boating (IMHO).
Whether people decide to use it or not is up to them but certainly no reason to diminish your efforts.

Totally agree, and I enjoy the variety of approaches. I make no claim to be "right".

 

[Plevier]

Similarly, proferring a package of Yotmeister-Ocean, VHF/DSC Certificate to Operate, Insurance Schedule, Exalted Yot Club Membership Card and Warrant to Wear a Blue Ensign, all in a neat-and-tidy respectable, crested blue folder to a Portly Portugee Policeman is likely to produce squeaks of pleasure and satisfaction - and not outrage - at one's evident willingness to 'play the game'.

I've just returned from 2 weeks sailing in the Cyclades. The documentary requirements were different in every island we visited and apparently at the HM's discretion. On one island he went through all the papers proffered by the Skipper (including all the above and more) and eventually photocopied just one sheet for his records.

The insurance? The registration certificate? No. He chose the Sussex Combined Clubs Handicap Certificate!!

 

[trapezeartist]

Wouldn't it be nice if you could hook up a printer to a chart plotter and get a list of waypoints and courses that way? I like to generate a route visually on screen, and it is far too tedious to then manually copy all those complicated numbers onto a piece of paper. A printed list with lots of white space around for annotations would be just the ticket for creating a passage plan.

 

[Blue_Pearl]

Wouldn't it be nice if you could hook up a printer to a chart plotter and get a list of waypoints and courses that way? I like to generate a route visually on screen, and it is far too tedious to then manually copy all those complicated numbers onto a piece of paper. A printed list with lots of white space around for annotations would be just the ticket for creating a passage plan.

I print mine out using the Raymarine RayTech Navigator - You can even export them as an Excel file if you like. Download the Raymarine RayTech navigotor for free and then get a card reader .......... simples.

 

[oldfatgit]

The passage planning format I have produced is not intended just to provide the authorities with a piece of paper. Rather I have developed it to take one through all of the relevant factors in a logical sequence to help one arrive at a plan which is both thorough and workable. It starts with general intentions, weather, tide times of all relevant ports, tidal streams, tidal gates, hazards and significant features and finishes with the ability to record the legs of the journey.

The check sheet is similarly broken down with safety equipment checks, serviceability checks, configuration of such things as sea cocks, hatches, gas supply, cooker, refridgerator etc, then items to be left ashore, items to be taken, next comes ships papers, navigation documents and finally personal documents.

Since using it I have found that I have much greater confidence in what lies ahead and what to do given expected or unexpected changes. In other words I find that I am better prepared. I do it for myself, if the authorities want a copy, then they will have to bring a photocopier!

 

[Madryn]

Did anyone take up the OPs offer of getting a copy of their planning form? I wouldn't mind having a look at it.

I know this is an old thread.

I sent the OP a PM but I notice they haven't been on here since last summer so I thought I'd ask if anyone else has a copy from when the original offer was made.

Thanks

 

[rotrax]

Eerrr - 12 Year old thread.

 

[Supertramp]

https://www.endeavour-sailing.co.uk/images/pdf/passage-plan-template.pdf

Try this. There are probably others available via charter company's or RYA.

It might be more than you need but makes you ask the right questions.

 

[stu9000]

,,, I see little benefit is spending hours filling in pages of reports to cover things that may or may not happen ...

I know I'm quoting selectively here , but I DO passage plan for various eventualities that may or may not happen. I see it as setting the landscape in my mind. I want those options worked out at home on the big screen with coffee/wine to hand and no green gills or screeming rigging or busted impeller etc etc etc. My route plans have a way point number based on a printed navionics chart let, a nautical mile count and a duration assuming 5 knots, along with various comments such as "watch out for this..." or "don't attempt in a N/E f4+". ...........


Lol. Just noticed. "12 yr old thread". I'm going g to bed.

 

[WLane]

https://www.endeavour-sailing.co.uk/images/pdf/passage-plan-template.pdf

Try this. There are probably others available via charter company's or RYA.

It might be more than you need but makes you ask the right questions.

That's much better than the one in the Reeds almanacs, thank you.

When dealing with tidal streams and gates, I personally like to see it all on piece of paper in front of me.

 

[KompetentKrew]

Passage plan: undertaken by the coarse sailor once under sail, consulting the pilot book with a cup of tea in hand.

 

[Daydream believer]

Did anyone take up the OPs offer of getting a copy of their planning form? I wouldn't mind having a look at it.

I know this is an old thread.

I sent the OP a PM but I notice they haven't been on here since last summer so I thought I'd ask if anyone else has a copy from when the original offer was made.

He got lost. Turned right instead of left when he departed the harbour. Still going. Expected to finish tenth lap of UK in about 3 weeks time. I think we should flag him in soon, it seems a little unfair otherwise. ?