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Before Booking a Charter | What You Will Need | Your Preparation |
Your Navigation on the Boat
One
of the big concerns for first time charterers or for lakes/inland
sailors is, "Will I be able to handle navigation 'in the open ocean'"?
Charter companies have a tendency to picture heavenly settings
in all the charter areas they cover. And fact is, most companies
try to set up their bases where sailing is rated from very easy
to moderately
difficult. But truth is:
-
Although many charter areas are suitable for sailors with
basic navigational skills, it is not always as easy as it
looks. And even if it is easy, different or unexpected conditions
may make some cruising grounds become difficult.
-
It is never a good idea or, more simply, good seamanship,
to underestimate the elements.
So the key word is, as with all
seamanship issues: PREPARATION, bearing in mind that
a charter cruise is different in many ways
form other cruises you may have done. Note: We address
here only navigation issues, not other seamanship questions, like
anchoring
etc.
1. Before Booking a Charter
Before you book any charter, even if you are not a first-timer:
-
Assess honestly your and your crew's sailing abilities,
especially if your crew is composed of non-sailors or almost
beginners. Remember: You are going sailing for fun and great
memories, not to get yourself scared silly!
-
Once you have located an area that seems to suit you, call
the charter company and talk to the representative. Tell him/her
about your skill level and make sure to listen to the advice.
-
Use the Internet. Go to a sailing forum of your choice,
like, for example, traveltalkonline.com
and browse the archives. Ask questions. Don't be embarrassed.
Many charterers will make a point to guide you. Also, we
have here a chart rating the world charter
areas by skill levels.
2. What You Will Need
2.1. Minimum Skills
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Read and understand a marine chart, longitudes and latitudes,
symbols, markers, depths, danger zones, etc.
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Plot a course and understand True and Magnetic course
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Keep track of a position either by dead reckoning or with
a GPS. Even in the easiest cruising grounds like the BVI's,
you will need those skills if you get caught in a windy rain
squall that will blind you and can make you drift quickly
into
a
dangerous zone. In some other cruising areas, there are so
many little islands that one can get very quickly disoriented.
-
Take bearings with a hand-held compass
-
Evaluate distances to obstacles and estimate a collision
course with another vessel.
2.2. Tools:
-
The latest edition of a guidebook or cruising guide of the
chosen area. Most latest editions will have GPS waypoints
included. Most charter companies will also send you some material
way in advance of your cruise.
-
A marine chart of the area. Although you will find one on
board your charter boat, it is a good idea to get your own
in advance, just to get acquainted with the area. Besides,
the one you will buy will surely be the latest edition, and
you
can
re-use
it
for a
later
cruise.
-
A basic charting kit with parallel rulers, dividers etc.
This also will be in your boat navigation table. However,
inquire in advance.
3. Your Preparation
For most sailors, including me, the fun of a charter
cruise starts way before we board the boat, and that is when we
prepare the itinerary. You see, it's like we are already there,
cruising... Besides, it is not a good idea to wait until you get
there to start
preparing this. Even if you decide to make changes after you attend
the charter briefing, at least you will have a pretty clear idea
of what the briefer is talking about. Now, you may proceed:
If you are going to one of the charter destinations covered in
our
Cruising Logs, download
the log and print it as a reference.
Whether you are using our logs
or not, use the cruising guide and the chart at the same time,
make a list of the places you want to visit. Always keep in mind
your
skills and your crew's, as well as prevailing winds -they
will shape your itinerary- and currents. Plot the route, the distance
and the sailing time of each segment (see
our page with computation help). Caribbean charterers will
generally be exposed to shorter distances between anchorages.
Whereas
in Europe, distances between ports tend to be longer. Also, in
many parts of Europe tide tables have to be followed closely.
Get familiar with the weather patterns of the area
where you are going. Again, all the charter cruising grounds
are depicted with blue sky and gentle winds. It is not the
reality all the time, by far. For example, in the Caribbean, depending
on the seasons, the weather can be as brutal as anywhere else.
A sudden arrival of the "Mistral" in the Med will may catch you
completely unprepared and scare you. And, very importantly, make
sure that you know where to get your daily weather reports. Exotic
locations can be challenging to get your reports.
 TIP: For
your first charter day, plan a short down wind or reach sail.
Try not to schedule a
long beat segment on your first day. Give yourself and your crew
time to unwind and take your marks on the boat and the area. Keep
that long beat segment for the middle of the week. You will not
escape at least one of those, anyway!
 CAUTION:
Especially in
the Caribbean, be very careful about sunset times. The sun sets
very quickly over there and you do not want to be caught sailing
in the dark. a) Charter companies strictly forbid it. b) You
will be really scared, as the reefs and shallow areas are everywhere
in particular in the Bahamas.
Now, STOP right there. There are 2 things you should know:
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90% of the time, it takes longer than expected to sail from
point A to point B.
-
It is not a good idea to have too ambitious an itinerary
in terms of distance covered. Unless you have no choice,
a
reasonable day should cover 15/25 miles at most depending
if you are beating or not. Some areas are exceptions to
this, but that is the rule of thumb. This should allow you
to sail in the morning, stop for lunch, do some snorkeling,
and then
sail in the afternoon to your night anchorage.
So unless you know the area very
well, reduce your itinerary. It is a very bad idea to try
to cover huge grounds every day, because you might get at your destination
very late, and it could be dark, or there could be no more moorings
balls or safe anchorage room. As a result, you will get scared or
at least nervous. Totally unnecessary.
Personally, I always schedule at least 1 or 1.5 day per week of
charter where we just stay put and relax. For that, of course,
we
choose an anchorage that has a lot to offer, like peace, nice
snorkeling, a great beach, a hiking trail, or a good restaurant,
etc. Don't
forget that a charter cruise need not be a race - You're supposed
to take it easy!
TIP: While
plotting your itinerary, take notes of everything you have questions
about or
that you do not understand. This is your list of questions
to ask the briefer when you get at the pre-charter briefing,
which you need to attend, with your chart please!
The briefer will give you the latest news and updates, like some
markers missing in this channel, etc.
OK, let's go sailing!
4. Your Navigation on the Boat
4.1. Equipment
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The usual navigation tools: Charts, dividers, parallel rules,
pencils, hand held compass, binoculars. All this is usually
aboard every charter boat, but I am used to bring my own
in my sail bag, because I know I can rely on my own equipment.
Also, binoculars in charter boats are not always in good
shape either! But this is not an obligation: just make sure
this gear will be on the boat by calling the charter
company in advance.
-
Nowadays, charter boats are equipped
with a GPS and/or a chart plotter - no radar though. Make
sure the manual is on board or you will be very
frustrated
when
trying to use it. I also bring my own hand held GPS. I use
a really basic one, and it is perfectly sufficient. Don't
forget extra batteries.
-
Some charter companies send you, with your charterer package,
a "baby chart" of the cruising area. It is a nice
document to get a general idea about the area, but it is not to
be used as a navigation chart.
-
Let's add to this polarized sunglasses. They are crucial
especially in the Caribbean, because they both heighten the
colors and eliminate glare. Thus they allow you to see literally
under water and spot those lethal coral heads.
TIP: To avoid writing on my charts and damaging
them, I use yellow "Stickies" to mark my positions
and make notes on the chart under sail.
-
By the way, you should always keep your chart handy in the
cockpit, but in a protected place so it does not fly away.
4.2. What You Must Know
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The navigation system of the area you will cruise.
-
The markers and buoys must be clearly understood. In the
USA, South America, and most of the Caribbean, the
lateral system of red-right-returning is in
use. It means that when entering a channel to return to a
marina or an anchorage, the red markers must be on your
starboard
(right) side. Conversely, in Europe, Australia, New Zealand,
the red markers must be on your port (left) side when returning.
-
Understand how your depth sounder shows the depth. Before
leaving, ask the briefer if the marked depth is the depth
under the keel or under the hull. If the latter, add the height
of the keel to find out your depth clearance.
- The notion of right of way is interpreted rather loosely in
many areas of the Caribbean. So when in doubt, you take
evasive action, even if you unquestionably have the right of
way, especially when you will cross path with a local ferry.
- Once again, you cannot
sail at night with a charter boat. Night navigation means real trouble,
because in case of an accident, you will have no insurance
coverage. So pay a lot of attention to your sailing time when
planning your cruise and when you leave an anchorage for the
next. In doubt, be smart: Do not leave and stay where you
are. You'll leave the next morning. Trust me on this.
- Know how to interpret the
colors of the water. Simple: The lighter the color, the less
depth there is. Very light blue/white indicates sand (good for
anchoring) while dark black/brown spots indicate rocks and grass
(poor holding). At all times, polarized sunglasses will greatly
enhance your vision of reefs, rocks and coral heads.
- If you know you are going
into a tricky segment of your trip, involving negotiating reefs
and narrow or shallow areas, make sure you do it around midday,
when the sun is directly above you. If you know you will get
into a reef area by the end of the afternoon, simply do not
do it.
- Know how to use the VHF.
At the briefing, you will be given the channels used locally
and by the charter company in the area, in case you need help.
If you have kids aboard, do not let them play with the VHF on
Channel 16. It is the universal emergency channel, and other
mariners do not appreciate misuse of it.
- At the briefing, you will
also be given the frequencies for local weather information.
Write all this down carefully.
- Most importantly: When
in doubt about anything, take the safest course of action. You
will never look dumb: you will be a prudent mariner.
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