First time sailing, Learning to sail, Sailing courses in the UK and Mediterranean
About Navigation
As a beginner you won't be expected to know much when it comes to navigation at sea, but if you're interested in sailing and want to progress towards skippering the boat you'll be spending a lot of time studying this facinating subject which seems to qualify as both art and science.
Only Two Things to Figure Out
Although navigation at sea is a pretty big topic covering many different areas of study it is worth remembering at the end of the day it comes down to just two things -1. knowing where you are and 2. knowing how to get safely from there to wherever it is you want to go. The essence of this should always be borne in mind when planning any passage, however big or small.
Navigation takes time and effort to learn. Make sure you are familiar with each topic before moving on to the next.
Remember the Big Picture
Keep things simple and straightforward. That dosen't mean taking shortcuts or making guesses but rather gathering all of the information you need to safely and accurately answer the navigational question in hand and no more. Students of yacht navigation have been known to calculate and log the tidal heights and streams affecting a passage in such unecessary detail that they miss the departure time they themselves chose for the passage and have to start their plan all over again. As you begin to learn navigation remember that although it is a vital skill that an aspiring skipper must develop in order to progress, it should never be at the expense or the general well being of the boat or it's crew. Don't make the mistake of becoming wedged into the chart table chair surrounded by charts, almanacs, pilot books and instruments whilst your crew are wondering which side of the flashing white light ahead the boat should pass or if you haven't left, that they were all so bored waiting they abandoned the boat hours ago and are spread all over the the local town trying to amuse themsleves.
"Even Noah got no salary for the first six months partly on account of the weather and partly because he was learning navigation."
-Mark Twain
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