Coastwise Navigation
Knowing where you are on the water.
- Dates
- June 15 – June 21
- Location
- Brooklin, Maine
- Tuition
- $950 (Discounts do not apply)
- Instructor
- Jane Ahlfeld
- Experience Level
- Novice
- Activity Level
- Low
This is a five-day course ending Friday
Except in the smallest bodies of water, the sailor is helpless if he or she lacks the age-old skills of piloting and dead reckoning. The goal of this course is to give students a really thorough understanding of, and facility with, coastwise navigation—approaching it both “academically” and on the water.
You’ll start with charts, the fundamental tool of the navigator. Modern charts present an incredible amount of information, and to really utilize it all—to continuously visualize the connection between the chart and your spot on the water—takes skill and experience. Your instructor will help you acquire both. You’ll learn about symbols, scales, specialized charts, and more.
You’ll examine compasses—types, azimuths, lubber lines, the confusions of deviation and variation. Parallel rules and dividers will become your friends as you learn the techniques of plotting courses, LOPs, and fixes. You’ll move on to more advanced procedures such as running fixes, compensation for set and drift, bow and beam bearings, circles of position, and the six-minute rule.
You’ll go boating in this course, putting your lessons into practice and getting skillful with the tools. You’ll use traditional and reliable instruments like the compass and leadline, and you’ll get your hands on electronic devices like depthsounders and GPS.
The beauty of this course is that it provides the ideal blend of the theory and practice of coastal navigation. By week’s end, you should be able to enjoy the niceties of piloting and relax more with your boat on the water.
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Who is this course best suited for?
This course is appropriate for someone with little or no experience. The course is designed around the idea that you have not done this before or know very little about the subject. Students should pay more attention to suggested readings or videos to help familiarize themselves ahead of time.
This course involves a low level of activity throughout the week including: occasional standing and working, seating is usually available, working on your own project at your own pace is common.
What Our Students Are Saying
Your COASTWISE NAVIGATION course was exactly what I wanted and needed. Very enjoyable. A good combination of classroom work and time on the water. Jane Ahlfeld was excellent. Very knowledgeable and engaging.
M.S., Haverford, Pennsylvania
I had hoped to become more proficient at plotting and executing a charted course. COASTWISE NAVIGATION did that and much more. It was great to have an opportunity to have exposure to all the modern electronics in action. A very enjoyable, enlightening week!
N.J., Fairfield, Connecticut
This was my fourth trip to your school and each time I worry that it won’t be the same as I remember it. But I’m always pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy my time in class, on the water, and meeting so many new people. I’m always very impressed at your efforts in providing all of us such a unique opportunity year after year. Thank you!
C.H., Huntsville, Alabama
Register For This Course
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