Any number of factors can affect the wind near land on coastal voyages, says Dick Everitt.
Nav in a Nutshell
Nav in a nutshell: Deploy the thinking man’s passage plan
Brain power is still best for calculating weather, wind and tidal information, says Dick Everitt
Nav in a nutshell: How to deal with wind shifts
Tacking inside a ‘cone’ can help you to harness changes in wind direction, explains Dick Everitt.
Nav in a nutshell: Making comfortable progress to windward
Why make heavy going in choppy conditions when a less demanding alternative heading will get you to your destination in about the same time? Asks Dick Everitt.
Nav in a nutshell: Lee bowing defined
Dick Everitt explains how you can get a little lift from the tide
Nav in a nutshell: Tacking to clear a headland
Simple step-by-step chartwork can show us when we’ll need to tack to clear a headland, says Dick Everitt.
Nav in a nutshell: Curved track or straight?
GPS will keep us on the straight and narrow by constantly showing how much we need to adjust our heading for changes in tide, wind and boat speed.
Nav in a nutshell: How to use a Breton Plotter
Breton Plotters are simple to use in practice, but tricky to explain on paper – it’s much easier if you have one in front of you as you follow the…
Nav in a nutshell: Shaping a course
GPS is not infallible, so it makes sense to know the basics of shaping a rough ‘course to steer’ on a paper chart, says Dick Everitt.
Nav in a nutshell: Know tidal vectors
'It’s easy for any sailor to remember how to draw tidal vectors with a handy little aide-mémoire!' Says Dick Everitt.
Pilotage: 14 ways to get a fix
14 traditional pilotage tips to help you obtain and maintain a fix of your position
Nav in a nutshell: Coping with currents
Dick Everitt explains how sailors can apply knowledge of tidal streams to ensure that water flow is a help, not a hindrance
Nav in a nutshell: Electronic charts
Dick Everitt assesses the differences between raster and vector charts when deciding on which chart plotter to buy
Nav in a nutshell: Looks good on paper
Up-to-date printed paper charts are a good bet for identifying your position – but they do have their limits, says Dick Everitt
Nav in a nutshell: Navigate with radar
Dick Everitt gives us a clear picture of the advantages to be gained from using radar to check our navigation
Nav in a nutshell: Navigating at night
There’s no need to be in the dark if your preparation is thorough and easy to understand, says Dick Everitt
Nav in a Nutshell: Lighthouse characteristics on charts
Dick Everitt helps illuminate our understanding of lighthouse characteristics on charts, their dipping distances and loom...
Nav in a Nutshell: Navigate by ‘feel’ using an echo sounder
The ‘ping’ is king: You can navigate by ‘feel’ over the seabed in adverse conditions by using an echo sounder – here’s how to do it...
Nav in a Nutshell: What is a transit and how are they used in navigation
Lining up a pair of appropriate land features or navigation marks can help keep you safe, as Dick Everitt explains
Nav in a Nutshell: Clearing bearings
In the first of his series on back-to-basics navigation Dick Everitt explains how to use a few simple lines to keep you safe