| Most of us do our sailing in what might be called 'close | | | | this case, they can look at the chart ahead of the |
| quarters'. Places like the Inland Waterway in the US, | | | | route they're travelling, select any transits and ask a |
| Norfolk Broads in England and most of the harbors of | | | | member of the crew to tell them when the transit |
| Australia. | | | | occurs. They are not allowed to leave the navigation |
| Usually, if navigation of any kind is needed, the GPS | | | | station. |
| provides it. But there are traps. Tall buildings or | | | | We don't have to go that far, but you can see that |
| mountains or other obstructions can garble the | | | | before you undertake a journey you can actually get |
| readings, so it is much better if the skipper knows and | | | | an idea of the transits you will use. |
| practices just a few of the really quick navigational | | | | 2. Bearing and transit |
| techniques that will tell him or her in seconds exactly | | | | Not quite as good as a fix by transits, this is |
| where they are. | | | | nevertheless a good quick technique. Where there are |
| Shock horror, you will have to use a chart and a | | | | not two transits close enough to be used together, |
| hand-bearing compass. But it can be fun and, once | | | | take a bearing of a known charted object and when |
| you've got the hang of it, it'll take no time at all. | | | | you have corrected the bearing to allow for variation |
| There are perhaps three such techniques that are the | | | | and/or deviation, plot it on the chart. |
| most useful. They are a fix by transits, a bearing and | | | | Where it intersects the transit is where you are. |
| transit, and a bearing and depth. Let's take them one | | | | 3. Bearing and depth |
| by one. | | | | A third quick method of finding where you are on |
| 1. Fix by transits | | | | either a single transit or a bearing is to note the depth |
| Any two objects that are marked on a chart can form | | | | of water your depth sounder is showing. Then find that |
| a transit. This means that when you observe them to | | | | depth on the transit or bearing, and that is where you |
| be in line, you are somewhere along that line. If, at the | | | | are. Again, though, you will have to correct the bearing. |
| same time or near enough the same time, you can | | | | Navigators familiar with 'close quarters' sailing probably |
| observe another transit you are where the two | | | | would describe these techniques as pilotage and |
| transits intersect on the chart. | | | | would wonder why I hadn't mentioned the most useful |
| The great beauty of a fix by transits is that they don't | | | | method of all - doubling the angle on the bow. |
| have to be corrected variation or deviation. You simply | | | | This is because I've already written a whole |
| mark them on the chart and that's where you are. | | | | EzineArticle on the subject, Coastal Navigation - How |
| When people are taking examinations in navigation, | | | | to Double the Angle on the Bow. |
| they are tested on what is called 'blind navigation'. In | | | | |