Weekend Navigator This 10 week course is an instructor led hands-on course that focuses on navigation in the digital age, along with the timeless techniques of classical navigation so that you never have to rely solely on electronics. Class exercises will be based on nautical charts of Casco Bay in Maine. You will learn how to plot a course, read a chart, take bearings and navigate using piloting techniques. You will also learn how to use electronic devices like a chart plotter, radar, AIS and VHF radio and how to apply Rules of the Road.

Welcome and introductory Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18mDFR2e3q4w7zKfZ4Zx6AwG7FUd1QLei/view?usp=share_link

See this link for Navigation Tools needed for this course: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZGxOjxdLGBeclk1JhnjTVwL5mWa2nakM/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=103836934286378198696&rtpof=true&sd=true

Topics:

1.Introduction to Navigation, Fundamentals of Waypoint Navigation, Tools required for Class.

2.Charts, Plotting Tools, Compass Rose, Plotting Exercises.

3.Calculating Distance, Marine Compasses, Aids to Navigation, Meaning of Water Depth and Height, Plotting a Course with Multiple Legs, Introduction of Major Class Project.

4.Initial Debrief on Class Project, Summer Thunderstorms, Introduction to OpenCPN and Electronic Navigation.

5.State of Nautical Charts, Basics of Chartplotter use, Fuel Management.

6.Chartplotter Setup and Use, Bearings and Establishing a Fix, Avoiding Danger.

7.Avoiding Danger (Con’t), Tides and Currents, Calculating Set and Drift.

8.Radar Topics, Running in Fog

9.Using Depth to Navigate, AIS, VHF Radios, EPIRB’s

10.Networking, Data Sharing and Telematics, Rules of the Road