Sailing Gently · video

What this video covers

Modern coastal and offshore navigation relies on electronic chart plotters and GPS, rendering traditional methods like celestial navigation and dead reckoning largely obsolete for recreational sailors.0:13 A primary navigation system should feature a fixed multifunction chart plotter loaded with current electronic charts from providers like C-MAP or Navionics.0:58 Because electronic systems can fail due to lightning strikes or electrical shorts, sailors must maintain a secondary backup, such as a handheld GPS or a tablet running navigation software like OpenCPN.1:48 Effective passage planning requires creating specific waypoints with memorable names rather than relying on default labels, and verifying routes against chart depths to avoid hazards like shifting sandbars or wrecks.5:50 Tidal planning is critical for passages through high-current areas like the Alderney Race or the Solent, where timing departures to align with favorable streams can prevent significant delays.20:54 Sailors should use tidal atlases or online resources to calculate stream strength and adjust departure times to ensure arrival at a destination in daylight.14:56

More from Sailing Gently

Struck by LightningSept 2026My Caribbean MarinaJul 2026Holiday in the south of FranceJul 2026French Canals to the Mediterranean REVISED 2026May 2026

From Sailing Gently — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.