| Did you know that your nautical GPS offers a way to | | | | For example, if the radius of the circle that surrounds |
| warn you if you sail too close to rocks, coral, or other | | | | the hazard was 1 nautical mile, then your proximity |
| "ship killing" dangers. Make tough sailing navigation | | | | circle should have a radius of at least 1.5 nautical miles. |
| passages much easier with the magic of proximity | | | | Increase this distance as you see fit, based on |
| circles. Put these five easy steps into play today on | | | | maneuverability, point of sail, wind, and current. |
| your small cruising or racing sailboat. | | | | 4. Program each hazard waypoint |
| Most handheld marine GPS receivers (or chart | | | | Enter each hazard waypoint into your gps. Label each |
| plotters) have a proximity function that allows you to | | | | hazard waypoint so that it cannot be confused with a |
| set up a waypoint surrounded by a circle. You can set | | | | non-hazard waypoint. For example, you might use Z-1; |
| an alarm to sound if you touch the circle's edge. This | | | | Z-2, or any other unique name. Double check each |
| gives you time to take action and turn toward deeper | | | | hazard waypoint's latitude and longitude with the |
| water. Follow these five steps for navigation safety. | | | | navigational chart before going to step 5. |
| 1. Look over your nautical chart | | | | 5. Set up and test your proximity circles |
| Plot your course lines onto your paper navigational | | | | Check your manual for directions to access and set |
| chart. Even with the great accuracy of GPS and chart | | | | up "proximity" waypoints. Access the proximity menu |
| plotters, vector displays often do not give enough detail | | | | and set the alarm toggle to "on". Go to the menu to |
| when sailing close to hazards. | | | | select each of your hazard waypoints. |
| 2. Set up hazard waypoints | | | | Set your circle radius with the toggle (up-down) key. |
| Measure the navigation latitude and longitude of the | | | | Finish one hazard waypoint; then page over to the |
| center of the hazard. For a cluster of rocks or coral, | | | | route screen. Check to make sure the computer has |
| use the approximate center of the cluster as the | | | | drawn the correct size proximity circle. Repeat this |
| center waypoint. Write each hazard waypoint down | | | | method for all other hazards. |
| into a logbook along with the lat and long. | | | | ******************** |
| 3. Determine your "circle-of-safety" | | | | Use these five easy steps to set up proximity |
| Use a plotting compass to measure the radius of the | | | | "circles-of-safety" in your nautical GPS. Boost your |
| circle. Push the needle point into the waypoint. Scribe a | | | | sailing navigation skills to the next level for worry-free |
| circle that surrounds the danger. Add at least 1/2 of | | | | sailing wherever in the world you choose to cruise. |
| that radius for safety. | | | | |