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Advanced Coastal Navigation Coast Guard Auxiliary Association Inc. Washington, D. C. First Edition..........................................................................1987 Second Edition .....................................................................1990 Third Edition ........................................................................1999 Fourth Edition.......................................................................2002 ii iii iv v vi Advanced Coastal Navigation TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction...................................................................................................ix Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO COASTAL NAVIGATION . .1-1 Chapter 2 THE MARINE MAGNETIC COMPASS . .2-1 Chapter 3 THE NAUTICAL CHART . .3-1 Chapter 4 THE NAVIGATOR’S TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS . .4-1 Chapter 5 DEAD RECKONING . .5-1 Chapter 6 PILOTING . .6-1 Chapter 7 CURRENT SAILING . .7-1 Chapter 8 TIDES AND TIDAL CURRENTS . .8-1 Chapter 9 RADIONAVIGATION . .9-1 Chapter 10 NAVIGATION REFERENCE PUBLICATIONS . .10-1 Chapter 11 FUEL AND VOYAGE PLANNING . .11-1 Chapter 12 REFLECTIONS . .12-1 Appendix A GLOSSARY . .A-1 INDEX . .Index-1 vii Advanced Coastal Navigation viii intRodUction WELCOME ABOARD! Welcome to the exciting world of completed the course. But it does marine navigation! This is the fourth require a professional atti tude, care- edition of the text Advanced Coastal ful attention to classroom presenta- Navigation (ACN), designed to be tions, and diligence in working out used in con cert with the 1210-Tr sample problems. chart in the Public Education (PE) The ACN course has been course of the same name taught by designed to utilize the 1210-Tr nau - the United States Coast Guard tical chart. It is suggested that this Auxiliary (USCGAUX). Portions of chart be readily at hand so that you this text are also used for the Basic can follow along as you read the Coastal Navigation (BCN) PE text. We recognize that students course. ACN is now used internally from all areas of the United States by USCGAUX as the navigation enroll in the course and that a better text in their member training classes. geographic “balance” to the exam - PE students who successfully com- ples might be attractive. Where nec - plete the ACN course (including essary as, for example, in the discus - necessary examinations) and who sion of polyconic charts of the Great elect to join are credited with com- Lakes in Chapter 3, illustrations pletion of the USCGAUX course. from other areas of the country are This fourth edition builds upon included. But the 1210-Tr chart con - the first three editions of this same tains a wide variety of features of text but has been updated to reflect interest to the navigator and, more - the helpful advice of numerous ded- over, contains a useful summary of icated USCGAUX instructors, stu- chart symbols printed on the reverse dent feedback, and recent technical side for ready reference. In short, developments in the field—particu- this is an ideal training chart. larly in the area of electronic navi - The ACN text has been designed, gation. Graphics and layout have for the most part, to teach you the been substantially improved from “classical” methods of coastal navi- earlier editions. gation applicable to small vessels. The ACN and BCN courses are Shortcuts, such as might be taken for not intrinsically difficult, nor do they routine cruises in very familiar have advanced educational require- waters, are men tioned only briefly. ments. Students from many walks of Experience, sometimes called the life and of widely varying education- “seaman’s eye”, teaches the naviga- al backgrounds have suc cessfully tor which shortcuts can safely be ix Introduction taken and under what circum- requires only seconds on a laptop ers who have a technical back - stances. But the basis for shortcuts computer? The answer is very sim - ground and are interested in a more should rest on a firm foundation/ ple. First, not all vessels are complete and detailed exposition. mastery of “the text book solution,” equipped with the latest in marine Students who lack the necessary and not simply arise from laziness, electronics; students come to the background or interest can omit lack of knowledge, or being out of ACN/BCN course owning every - these sections without loss of conti - practice. thing from runabouts equipped with nuity. Material so identified is not Over the past few years there little more than a compass to large included in the final examination for have been revolutionary develop- yachts equipped with virtually the the PE course, but may appear on ments in the field of marine elec- entire contents of one of the numer- the USCGAUX navigation course tronics. Modern Global Positioning ous catalogs of purveyors of marine examination. Additionally, a list of System (GPS) or Loran-C receivers, electronics. The ACN/BCN course ref erences is appended to chapters the fluxgate compass, radar, fuel is designed for skippers of both of for those who wish to learn more flow meters and computers, elec- these types of vessels. Second, and about particular topics. Sidebars are tronic charts, and autopilots serve as perhaps more important, even if a used to set off sum maries, provide examples. These devices, tied vessel is equipped with the latest in highlights, and add items of his - together with onboard navigational navigation systems, the reliability of torical interest that would otherwise computers, have revolutionized seaborne electronics is still far from disturb the flow of the narrative. both the art and science of marine perfect. The classical methods of Perhaps surprisingly, several navigation. Today it is literally true navigation are required to moni tor aspects of navigation (generally that, by merely pressing a few but- the performance of even the best- those relating to the “art” of naviga - tons, you can program an entire equipped vessel. And, should these tion) are controversial. For exam ple, voyage and simply sit back, watch systems fail, classical meth ods can there are those who advocate that all for traffic and be prepared to dock be used to bring you home safe and plotting should be done with respect the vessel at the conclusion of the sound. to magnetic, rather than true north. voyage. Alarms warn of the ACN does include material on Although this text takes a position approach of vessels within a prede- more sophisti cated marine electron- on many of these points of contro- fined exclu sion zone, passage into ics, such as GPS, Loran-C, and versy, books or articles that espouse shallow water, and arrival at way- radar. The coverage is not designed a contrary point of view are includ- points or the final destination. Once, to teach you how to operate any par- ed among the references. Therefore, such an “electronic voyage” would ticular make or model but, rather, to the student should not assume that have come from the dreams of Jules acquaint you with the general prin - either the United States Coast Guard Verne, or been impossibly out of ciples and techniques so that you (USCG) or the USCGAUX specifi- reach for most boaters. But recent can make better use of whatever cally endorse any work listed in the advances in the state of the art of equipment you own or elect to pur- references. These are included to marine electronics have brought sci- chase. add balance, perspective, and inter- ence fiction into the realm of the ACN also con tains a novel chap- est. Likewise, any mention or inclu- possible and affordable. ter on fuel plan ning, a subject usual- sion of pictures of particular makes These modern miracles have led ly given short shrift, or omitted or models of equipment does not some students to question the role of entirely, in the typ ical text on navi- imply that these are recommended classical methods of coastal nav - gation. Unfortunately, fuel starva- or endorsed by USCGAUX or igation, such as the use of visual tion and/or fuel exhaustion cause all USCG. fixes, dead reckoning plots, and the too many preventable Search and Thanks to the many firms like. Why, after all, learn the tedious Rescue (SAR) cases. that supplied pictures and/or proce dures required to calculate tide Several sections of this text are illustra tions for use in this text. height or tidal current, for example, identified as “more technical.” This Acknowledgments are included in when an hour-by-hour calculation material is included for those read - the caption for each illus tration. x Introduction Although theory is not slighted, material is so valuable, and we apol- Remember that you have the the emphasis in the text is on prac - ogize in advance if the information choice of being the operator of tical, time-tested approaches to nav - referenced is not available. your vessel or merely an igation. The text contains numerous This text contains a glossary of occupant. Knowledge, skill, and discussions of practical methods terms, given in Appendix A. experience are required to trans form and numerical examples to provide Readers encountering an unfamiliar occupants into competent operators. a firm foundation in the art and sci- term or abbreviation may wish to Remember, also, that each voyage ence of coastal navigation. consult this appendix for a brief should be a learning experi ence. In In recent years, the amount of explanation. this sense, all of us should be per- useful material posted on the Each page of the logbook of petual students. Internet has increased substantially. Christopher Columbus was headed May you always have fair skies, Web Site addresses are included as with the title Como Dios Manda (As calm seas, fair currents, and follow- references at various points in the God Ordains), which was testi mony ing winds. But, more important, text. These addresses were valid at both to his religious faith and to the may you learn how to navigate safe - the time that this edition went to primitive state-of-the-art of naviga- ly and efficiently regardless of sea press.