Hello Youngsters! (Ages 1-99)

The topic is... Navigational Tools

YOUR COMPASS

As a day sailor, you can usually figure out your location by checking landmarks on the shore. But what happens if you're out of sight of land, or a thick fog suddenly rolls in? That's when you need your hand-held compass.

As you know, a compass has an arrow that points to magnetic north. Try this experiment on dry land: Stand facing north with the compass in your hand. Now turn to the right. The arrow continues pointing north, but the dial tells you that you're facing east at 90 degrees.
You have just taken a simple bearing. It's the same on a boat. As you face the bow, compass in hand, it will show you your bearing, or direction.

You must have a working knowledge of direction, just as you must for the weather. Smart sailors always keep in mind which way is north. It gives you a fix on where the shore is. So even when you can't see land. You can still check Your compass and head for home.

Even the most experienced skippers rely on nautical charts for getting around safely in unfamiliar waters. They are like road maps, but they also tell you what's under the water.

Charts help you:
Find out where you are when you aren't sure.
Plan the best route to get from where you are to where you want to be.

Charts tell you the depth of the water at low tide. They pinpoint sunken shipwrecks and other hidden hazard. They warn you about shallow water with rocks or mud banks where you could run aground. They show lighthouses, bridges, and prominent landmarks, such as buildings and water tanks.

Local charts often indicate buoys, which are markers that let you approach a new channel with confidence.

Buoys are red and green. If you are sailing from a large bay into a harbor, you are reckoned to be "returning." The red buoys must be on your starboard side, the green ones to port. There's a handy saying to help you remember this rule: "Red-right-returning."

 In coastal waters, a chart and compass can still hold their own against the fanciest computer and satellite navigation equipment found on large yachts. And they're even more reliable when the batteries go dead.

Next topic : We will learn more about Navigation

Have fun out there!