Course
Description
This
introductory
course
offers
basic
knowledge
of
navigation
theory
and
is
the
initial
course
ina
comprehensi
ve
set
of
courses
offered
by
Sail
Canada
on
vessel
navigation.
The
curriculum
covers
the
role
of
the
navigator
and
introduces
the
publications,
aids
to
navigation,
tools
and
techniques
that
support
planning
and
safe
passage
making.
The
student
is
exposed
to
basic
plotting
and
position
determination
methods.
This
course
co
vers
infor
mation
key
to
the
effective
use
of
electronics.
Sessions
complement
material
introduced
in
Sail
Canada
Basic
Cruising
and
Basic
Powerboating
courses.
The
concepts
and
skills
covered
will
be
applied
in
the
Intermediate
Cruising
and
IntermediateP
ower
courses
and
prepares
candidates
for
the
Sail
Canada
Intermediate
Coastal
Navigation
courses.
T
his
course
should
be
offered
and
evaluated
in
not
less
than
15
hours
of
classroom
sessions.
Objective
To
be
able
to
plan
and
to
safely
navigate
by
day
in
Ca
nadian
coastal
and
inland
local
waters.
Prerequisites
None.
PCOC
Recommended.
Ashore
Knowledge
The
candidate
must
be
able
to:
1.
Describe
the
navigator’s
role
and
responsibilit
ies
including
appraisal,
planning,
execution
and
monitoring
posi
tion.
2.
Explain
the
chart
symbols
and
conventions
on
Canadian
Hydrographic
charts,
in
accordance
with
the
ter
minology
of
Chart
1,
Symbols,
Abbreviations
and
Terms.
3.
Identifya
source
of
official
Canadian
government
navigation
publications.
4.
List
the
publications
req
uired
by
regulation
as
well
as
those
needed
for
prudent
navigation
in
the
local
area
and
demonstrate
their
purpose,
including
the
following
minimum
requirements:
a)
Large
scale
charts
of
the
area
and
Chart
1,
Symbols,
Abbreviations
and
Terms;
b)
Sailing
Directions;
c)
Tide
and
Current
Tables;
d)
Current
Atlas;
e)
Collision
Regulations;
f )
Local
rules
and
regulations;
g)
List
of
Lights,
Buoys,
and
Fog
Signals;
h)
Radio
Aids
to
Marine
Navigation;
i)
Safe
Boating
Guid
e;
j)
Canadian
Aids
to
Navigation.
5.
Describe
source
and
purpose
of
Notices
to
Mariners(
NOTMAR)
and
Navigatio
nal
Warnings (
NAVWARNs).
6.
List
and
describe
or
demonstrate
the
use
of
tools
required
for
prudent
navigation
including:
a)
Hand-
bearing
compass;
b)
Steering
compass
and
deviation
table;
c)
Depth
sounder
and
lead
line;
d)
Log/knot-
meter;
e)
Dividers;
f )
Protractor,
plotter
or
parallel
rule;
g)
Watch
or
clock;
h)
Pencil/eraser/note
book.
7.
List
factorsa
ffecting
depth
above
or
below
chart
datum
in
tidal
and
non-
tidal
waters.
8.
Use
the
Tide
and
Current
Table,
Current
Atlas
or
chart
embedded
tables
to
find:
a)
Times
and
heights
of
tides
at
reference
and
secondary
ports;
b)
Direction
and
rate
of
current
at
reference
and
secondary
stations;
c) R
ate
and
direction
of
current
ata
specific
location
using
tidal
diamonds
ora
Current
Atlas.
9.
Convert
courses,
headings
and
bearings
between
true,
magnetic,
and
compass.
10.
Plot:
a)A
dead
reckoning
(DR)
position
froma
known
position
given
speed,
time,
and
course;
b)A
position
fix
based
on
two
or
more
bearings
on
different
terrestrial
objects
taken
at
one
time;
c)A
position
fix
based
ono
ne
bearing
anda
transit
range
based
on
terrestrial
objects;
d)
Danger
and
clearing
bearings.
11.
Given
one
or
more
planned
legs
and
estimated
speed,d
etermine
to
the
nearest
minute:
a)
Estimated
time
of
arrival
(ETA);
b)
Revised
ETA.
12.
Recognize
day
and
night
appearance
and
meaning
of
the
Canadian
Aids
to
Navigation S
ystem
(lat
eral,
cardinal,
special
buoys;
and
day
beacons).
13.
Use
charts
and
publications
to
preparea
basic
pilotage
plan
fora
daytime
trip
including:
a)
Harbour
en
try
and
exit;
b)
Waypoints,
rhumb
linec
ourse,
heading
(in
compass),
distance,
and
ETA;
c)
Use
of
aids
to
navigation
enroute;
d)
Consideration
of
water
depth,
current,
weather,
and
other
local
factors
and
hazards.
14.
With
reference
to
GPS:
a)
Explain
the
basic
operation
of
GPS
to
determine
position;
b)
List
factors
that
affect
the
accuracy
of
positions
given
by
GPS;
c)
Identify
common
GPS
applications
for
navigation
and
cautions
concerning
their
usage.
15.
Describe
the
types
of
information
that
may
be
included
ina
vessels
log.
16.
Use
Sail
Canada
Uniform
Navigation
Symbols
and
Terms
for
plotting
and
labelling.
Outcomes
and
Evaluation
You
can
attain
this
standard
by
achievinga
minimum
of
70%
on
the
Sail
Canada
Basic
Coastal
Navigation
Ex
amination.
Performance
on
the
written
exam
will
be
reviewed
with
the
candidate.
Successful
candidates
will
be
awarded
the
Basic
Coastal
Navigation
sta
ndard
and
the
certification
will
be
noted
in
thec
andidates
Sail
Canada
Logbook.
C ertification
is
complete
when
the
logbook
is
signed
by
the
evaluating
instructor(s)
anda
seal
affixed,
and
when
the
candidate
status
is
updated
in
the
Sail
Canada
data
base.S
tudent
certification
is
good
for
life.
Additional
Notes
Students
that
have
completed
Basic
Coastal
Navigation
may
further
develop
their
skills
by
taking
the
Sail
Can
ada
Intermediate
Coastal
Navigation
or
Intermediate
Cruising
course.
Over
time
student
skills
may
weaken
and
updates
to
training
to
refresh
and
build
skill
are
recommended.
Physical
Requirements
for
Candidates
None.
Further
Information
For
further
information
on
navigation
training,
contact
your
Provincial
Sailing
Association
or
Sail
Canada.
8.
Use the
Tide and Current Table, Current Atlas
or chart embedded tables to find:
a)
Times and heights of tides at reference and secondary ports;
b)
Direction and rate of current at
reference and secondary stations;
c)
Rate and direction of current at a specific location using tidal diamonds.or a Current Atlas.
9.
Convert courses, headings and bearings between true, magnetic, and compass.
10.
Plot:
a)
A dead reckoning (DR) position from a kn
own position given speed, time, and course;
b)
A position fix based on two or more bearings on different terrestrial objects taken at one time;
c)
A position fix based on one bearing and a tran
sit range based on terrestrial objects;
d)
Danger and clearing bearings.
11.
Given one or more planned legs and estimated speed, determine to the nearest minute:
a)
Estimated time of arrival (ETA);
b)
Revised ETA.
12.
Recognize day and night appearance and meaning of the Canadian Aids to Navigation System (lat-
eral, cardinal, special
buoys; and daybeacons).
13.
Use charts and publications to prepare a basic
pilotage plan for a daytime trip including:
a)
Harbour entry and exit;
b)
Waypoints, rhumb line course, heading (in compass), distance, and ETA;
c)
Use of aids to navigation enroute;
d)
Consideration of water depth,
current, weather, and othe
r local factors and hazards.
14.
With reference to GPS:
a)
Explain the basic operation of GPS to determine position;
b)
List factors that affect the accuracy of positions given by GPS;
c)
Identify common GPS applications for navigation and cautions concerning their usage.
15.
Describe the types of information that may be included in a vessels log.
16.
Use Sail Canada Uniform Navigation Symbols and Terms for plotting and labelling.
`
Outcomes and Evaluation
You can attain this standard by achieving a minimum of 70% on the Sail Canada Basic Coastal
Navigation
Examination. Performance on the written exam will be reviewed with the candidate.
Successful candidates will be awarded the Basic Coastal Na
vigation standard and the ce
rtification will be noted
in the candidates Sail Canada Logbook. Certification is complete when the logbook is signed by the
evaluating
instructor(s) and a seal affi
xed, and when the candidate status is updated in the Sail Canada data base. Student
certification is good for life.
Additional Notes
Students that have completed Basic Coastal Navigation may further develop their skills by taking
the Sail Can-
ada Intermediate Coastal Navigation or Intermediate Cruising course.
Over time student skills may weaken and updates to training to refresh and build skill are
recommended.
Physical Requirements for Candidates
None.
Further Information
For further information on navigation training contact your Provincial Sailing Association or Sail
Canada.