This all-new course continues to build coastal and inland navigation skill, allowing the student to take on more challenging conditions – unfamiliar waters, limited visibility, and extended cruises. GPS is embraced as a primary navigation tool while adding radar, chartplotters, and other electronic navigation tools. As with Piloting, the course includes many in-class exercises, advancing the student’s skills through hands-on practice and learning. Topics covered include:
- Review of skills learned in Piloting.
- Advanced positioning techniques such as advancing a line of position.
- Other electronics: radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chartplotters, laptop computer software, etc.
- Hazard avoidance techniques using electronics (e.g., “keep out” zones in GPS).
- Collision avoidance using radar and GPS.
- Working with tides: clearances, depth, effects of current.
- Piloting with wind and currents.
- The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course.
