Coastal Navigation: US Sailing Certification Course

NOTE: Every student will require plotting tools for this course. We recommend the Weems & Plath brand as those are the best for accuracy - and accuracy is critical! The tools are available at Weems & Plath, West Marine, Amazon, and elsewhere.

Required tools are: 

1. Dividers
2. Parallel ruler
3. Parallel Plotter (aka Roller Ruler) or chart protractor
4. #2 pencil or mechanical pencils and quality erases

Optional: TSD circular slide rule

Description

This course, taught by certified US Sailing instructors, will teach you the art of traditional navigation techniques, and how to integrate electronic navigation tools into your planning.  There are no prerequisites and this hands-on course will allow you to immediately apply the material.

Each student will receive a copy of the US Sailing Coastal Navigation Student Book and a full-size chart for plotting exercises. Everyone that passes the exam will receive a sticker for your US Sailing log book.

The course takes place over 4 evening sessions, with a 5th evening for the (optional) certification exam. 

You will learn the following practical skills: 

• Determine the Latitude and Longitude of a position. 

• How to plot a course on a chart, using the true and magnetic compass roses and applying variation and deviation correctly.

• Measure distance on a chart with and without a bar scale.

• How to plot a Dead Reckoning (DR) course; a course corrected for leeway; a running fix; a fix; a danger bearing; ranges.

• How to use published reference material, including the Local Notice to Mariners, Chart #1, a Coast Pilot and Cruising Guide, and a Light List

• Determine the height of tide and direction and strength of current at any time or location. Learn how to determine a course to steer given the set and drift of the current.

• How to integrate electronic information with traditional navigation techniques.

• And more!

The class will be held in the Liberty Room, on the 3rd floor of the brick building along Key Highway. You'll receive an email on the day of the class with building entry instructions.

If the course is full, please add yourself to the waitlist - we will contact you if a spot opens up!

Please review our FAQ page for additional information, including details on our cancellation policy, and let us know if you have any questions (email info@downtownsailing.org).

FULL PAYMENT IS REQUIRED TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR THIS COURSE. SPACE IS LIMITED.