Navigation Online

[derek s.langsdon]

From "Anglia Afloat" 2011 (edited-dsl)

This may have been posted before,but I dont see it, so will repeat the
headlines which may be of interest:

"Now you can go to sea and learn to navigate online"

(I would have thought it best to know how before venturing on the briny ! but anyay...d)..

"Essential Navigation & Seamanship" is the new online course from the RYA
for anyone interested in sailing,motor-boating,sea-angling or diving,and works well in complementing the RYA's "on the water training" for "Start yachting" "Powerboat level two" and Helmsman course It is a great introduction to navigation,seamanship,and safety awareness for new,inexperienced ,or just rusty,skippers and crew.

Traditionalists took some convincing that this was not just aimed at the "Facebook" generation.It has ben developed by expert sailors and trainers and is enjoyable and informative.

The course can be completed in six to ten hours,or at your own speed and convenience,even onboard. It is heavilly geared towards electronic navigating
and includes,how to read a paper or electronic chart,safety checks before leaving harbour, how to obtain and report a weather forecast ,position, and pilotage and passsage planning.

An additional "Day Skipper" course needs 40 hours of study and covers a large number of topics,some of them necessarilly complex.There are two in-class assessments that must be passed. "Day Shipper" is a big task for a novice so an "Entry Level: course can be used ahead of "Day Skipper" or as a stand-alone for "Navigation"

RYA interactive (course price is 99 pounds (was 149),Contact Anglia Sea Ventures,Ipswich
Tel 01473-210437),
www.angliaseaventures.com/traininginteractive.htm

derek-L






.

[jainso31]

Derek this scheme seems to me- to be potentially dangerous. I echo your remark that it is eminently sensible to learn sea navigation the "old fashioned" way; before taking any type of craft to sea.
Perhaps some our ex seamen would give a view on this subject.

jainso31

[INVINCIBLE]

Derek this scheme seems to me- to be potentially dangerous. I echo your remark that it is eminently sensible to learn sea navigation the "old fashioned" way; before taking any type of craft to sea.
Perhaps some our ex seamen would give a view on this subject.

jainso31

Entirely agree - essential to actually do it the old way before going to sea. I did it that way but fortunately in the warm waters round Malta in the days when the Royal Navy was there. Having said that simulators seem to be the way forward, we use bridge and Ops room simulators a lot in the Royal Navy (new kit just delivered to HMS Collingwood). Racing drivers, airline pilots and even fast jet pilots spend hours and hours in simulators. You can buy relatively cheap PC simulators for flying aircraft, sailing ships and Janes do a naval combat simulator.

[jainso31]

I suppose there will be people with sufficient knowledge of navigation; who may well be adept at simulation; but certainly not first time DIY types.Thank you for your interest and comment.

jainso31

[Derek Dicker]

I thought I'd make a comment to this thread.
After I completed my 12 year service with the the Royal Navy as a communications rating (ex LRO(t) I joined the RNXS as a communications/navigational rating, my duties on the bridge of an old 1962 build of a fleet tender, were communications with RN/Coastal radio stations,
plus inshore navigation, of course we did not have the modern tech navigational equipment, we navigated by mag compass, using cross bearing fixes using variation and deviation. On a long cross channel to the Islands we of course used dead recon for position finding. Using tidal flows was of course part of the equation.

I remember on one occasion I met up with a crew of a gin palace who were on a jolly sailing to the Channel Islands, yes they got to their destination OK.
But a hooley blew up during their stay, departure delayed, auto pilot didnt have a clue 3 days later. Asked the question (what do we do now) had to give courses and bearings for departure, reset auto systems for them to return to destination. Never found out if they got home ok.
A little knowledge is useful but can be dangerous


Derek (bunts)

[jainso31]

I guess that about says it all, as far as you are concerned, about amateurs going down to the sea in ships.As you say a little knowledge is a positively dangerous thing to have in the circumstances that you have just described.
I think I knew the response to expect from regular sea going men.Thanks for your interest and response Derek.

jainso31

[Fairlead]

You have to put this training AID, repeat AID into perspective. It is a means to learn navigation basics - my instructor at HMS DRYAD in 1972 used a chalk board, books and instruments in the classroom, drumming into us the value of the "Mark 1 Eyeball" and that anything electrical was only and AID and not be be relied on! - now you can do all this classroom work on a PC at home (or even onboard your boat) without much of the cost, before you practice at sea.. It is NOT a substitute for practical experience or examination which are both required before qualification.
The RYA are also digitising some of their publications - so e-books are here too.

Gordon

[jainso31]

Gordon
An AID- not DIY NAVIGATION for immediate use.That I must say makes a lot of sense.It is a means to an end- which is Qualification if I understand you correctly,My thanks for your interest and input.

jainso31

[Old Salt]

As a specialist navigator I must agree with others that a high degree of practice and experience is necessary on the bridge of any ship.

As a NZ Coastguard tutor of 20 years I have learned a somewhat different view when it comes to boaties.

In NZ (and UK ?) no qualifications or experience are required before taking a pleasure boat to sea. I have taught many voluntary Boatmasters courses where the students gained their Boatmasters Certificate. It has no value to drive commercial boats, it is entirely voluntary and these people are to be commended and encouraged.

Since the days of teaching with chalk, many aids to learning have arrived : overhead projectors , flash cards, and now CDs. Any bit of knowledge we can pass on to boaties is good value , however the means.

I used to open my course with " If I can teach you one thing which will keep you from getting into trouble at sea, then this course will be worthwhile "

A little knowledge to a boatie might just save a life , where the completely ignorant may perish.

Brian

[jainso31]

Well said Brian -your last two lines said it all and "the gaining of a Boatmasters Certificate is to encouraged and applauded":cool::):)

jainso31