Coastal Navigation Course - BVI
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Coastal Navigation certification
Prerequisites: None
Completion time: 8 hours
Tuition: $295
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Coastal navigation graduates will be able to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters through traditional navigation techniques. Students will also learn how to integrate electronic navigation tools into the navigation plan.
Course Curriculum
- Certification Requirements:
- Explain the chart symbols and conventions on nautical charts in accordance with the terminology of chart #1.
- Be familiar with the sources of appropriate navigation publications.
- Demonstrate ability to select appropriate charts from the chart catalog.
- Demonstrate ability to update charts using the Local Notice to Mariners.
- Demonstrate ability to use Chart
- Demonstrate ability to use a Coast Pilot.
- Demonstrate ability to use a Light List.
- Determine the height of tide at any time or location.
- Determine the direction and strength of the current at any time or location.
- Understand buoyage systems and Aids to Navigation.
- Calculate the geographical and luminous range of a light for a given height of eye and visibility.
- Describe the operation of electronic navigation instruments: knot meters, knot logs, fathometers, wind speed and direction finders, radar, VHF radio, weatherfax, and personal computers.
- Understand the operation of the GPS.
- Understand the importance of using a navigation (or deck) log when navigating formally.
- Understand the principles of safe inshore pilotage, such as: safe course, clearing (or danger) bearings, back bearings, ranges (or transits), and use of the fathometer.
- Understand how to interpret and integrate weather information into your navigation.
- Describe the importance of such navigational strategies as: upwind or up current arrival; anticipating leeway; the favored tack; working the middle; reaching, not running; and the dawn arrival.
- Be familiar with the safety precautions to be taken before entering fog and describe the following fog tactics: buoy hopping, deliberate offset, visibility circles.
- Understand the care and use of plotting tools.
- Measure distance on a chart with and without a bar scale.
- Determine the Latitude and Longitude of a position.
- Plot and label, neatly and accurately, the following items: a Ded Reckoning (DR) course; a course corrected for leeway; an after motion triangle to determine a course to steer given the set and drift of a known current; a before motion triangle to determine a course to steer given the set and drift of a known current; a running fix; a fix; a danger bearing; ranges.