This course takes you through the fundamentals of navigation. We’ll take you through the path by planning, and plotting, a practical journey. (You’ll be plotting on a chart within the first hour of the course!)

Dates: Tuesday 8th from 6pm to 9pm; Thursday 10th from 6pm to 9pm and Saturday 12th September 2026 from 10am to 4pm.

Important Information: Navigation tools are lent for the course. If you need to study at home, please return the equipment; otherwise, you will be charged.

Duration: This course runs for approximately 12 hours 

Course Overview:

What is navigation? (A method of getting from one place to another, without mistakes or surprises)

What is Pilotage? (Not running into things or running aground – leaving, travelling and arriving.)

Resources we can use

•      Charts

•      Local knowledge

•      Electronic aids

•      Your senses

•      Weather services (e.g. BOM)

•      Weather apps

•      Navigation plot, and Deck log, templates (will be provided in hard and soft copy).

The sphere we live on

Why nautical miles? Why degrees and minutes? Ahh. The penny will drop!

We need to know a bit about Buoyage and Rules

•      IALA A, IALA B.

•      Lateral marks

•      Cardinal marks

•      Other buoys

•      Lighthouses

•      Light patterns

•      International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea (COLREGS)

We need to look closer at Charts

•      Paper, electronic, or both?

•      What does a chart tell us?

•      Electronic – the good, the bad and the ugly

Plotting your course

•      Big Picture

•      Finer detail

•      Tools to use

•      Measuring distance and bearing

•      Preparing a navigation plot

Understanding anchoring

It’s all about technique

Understanding tides and currents, They can be very nice, or very nasty!

Course Prerequisites: No prior knowledge or experience is assumed or required.

Who should do this course?

A stand alone course designed to enable the offshore mariner to safely navigate extended passages using traditional methods. It includes practical navigation exercises and sample chartwork calculations.

Cancellations and Rebooking: Please note that courses canceled up to 72 hours in advance by email will not incur a fee to reschedule. However, cancellations made with less than 72 hours notice will be subject to a $75 charge (if you are sick, we will just need proof to waive this charge).

Important Information: Our sailing academy does not offer refunds. However, we will be more than happy to be flexible with any cancellations and find the best solution to reschedule your sailing session.