Modern Sailing Navigation: High-Tech, Meet Tradition
Modern sailboat cockpits can rival flight decks, packed with screens and instruments—impressive tools, until the power goes out.
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Last year, I had the opportunity to operate the American Magic simulator, which had the exact same configuration as the racing yacht itself. I felt like I was in the cockpit of a spacecraft. All the screens, buttons, readouts, digital files, and headsets for communication reminded me of Buck Rogers and Star Trek.
I’m sure that the computers and artificial intelligence helped the sailors in their quest to win the America’s Cup, but I was bewildered. One of the coaches said that today’s better Cup helmsmen are skilled video-game players, and often aircraft pilots comfortable with sophisticated instrumentation.
A few days after my time in the simulator, I enjoyed a sail on a brisk winter’s day aboard my 32-foot sloop. My complete package of instruments includes a compass, a VHS radio and a nautical chart. The sharp contrast between Whirlwind and the America’s Cup yachts made me think about the appropriate amount of instrumentation that should be aboard a sailboat.
We live in an age when computers, GPS, chart plotters, accurate instruments and navigational tools are ubiquitous. On bigger boats, the chart table contains a labyrinth of electronic tools that are great until something goes wrong. Then what?
Stan Honey, one of the most successful racing navigators of our era, says that he always carries paper charts, even with the availability of electronic aids. For my part, before every race or cruising adventure, I take the time to study charts so that I have a mental image of the waters. I particularly note shallow spots and places with large tides and swift currents. If a boat loses power or develops a short circuit, paper charts will save the day. I like to use waterproof charts on deck. Paper charts need to be stored in a dry space. I use plastic folders.
GPS is amazingly accurate and easy to use. It can indicate a boat’s position and speed, help to add waypoints, and assist in calculating course and distance to a destination. On my cruising boats, I’ve always had at least two GPS systems with an abundant supply of batteries. When sailing on waters noted for fog, a GPS is a fundamental aid.
Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book, published annually for 150 years, is another invaluable guide. It includes tides and currents, celestial-body timings, navigational rules, piloting tips, emergency first aid, marine weather guidance, tips on electronic navigation, light lists, and coastal piloting information for mariners from Nova Scotia to Key West, Florida. The yellow-cover book is a must for any chart table. Plus, nifty stories are sprinkled throughout the text.
Reeds Nautical Almanac is another useful publication for sailors. I also stock up on cruising guides for the area in which I will be sailing. The US Coast Guard publishes the Coast Pilot series for the entire United States in eight volumes. This information is helpful when entering harbors, to avoid dangers to navigation.
For many mariners, an important volume is American Practical Navigator, first published by Nathaniel Bowditch in 1802. It is updated frequently and has all the information for celestial navigation and piloting. I still have my copy of the 1,514-page 1968 edition with hundreds of earmarked pages. The newer additions are slimmed down to 950 pages.
A compass has been a trusted tool for sailors since 200 B.C. In the year 1120, the compass was used for marine navigation using Earth’s electromagnetic field. The compass is reliable and easy to use, but it needs to be corrected for deviation from a boat’s magnetic forces and variation for the differences in the magnetic fields across the globe. It’s important to have a professional adjust the compass so that it is accurate. Modern electronic compasses with digital readouts are helpful tools. I also keep a hand bearing compass on board if I need to do some piloting.
Essential instruments on sailboats are a boatspeed indicator, windspeed and direction indicators, and a fathometer. I like to know the wind velocity and direction, the angle of the apparent wind, the depth of the water, and how fast the boat is moving. My philosophy is to keep instrumentation simple so that I can spend my time enjoying the sailing.
On racing boats, the appetite for additional information never seems to be satisfied. A navigator will sit near the helm with a tablet to calculate wind trends, watch the changing course and bearing to the next mark, continually calculate the direction and speed of currents, monitor the state of tidal rise, and study optimal performance data. At least one crewmember focuses exclusively on the data. All this information is interesting but, in my view, not necessary for most enthusiasts.
A barometer indicates changes in the weather. NOAA Weather Radio, found on VHS radio, and satellite sources such as Starlink give up-to-date weather forecasts. Cellphones are reliable, with connectivity available in most of the country. The important thing is to keep your cellphone dry and secure. Many cellphones are on the bottom of our bays and lakes.
Binoculars are a wonderful aid, whether used for navigation or simply observing the surroundings. When binoculars come on deck, notice how frequently they are passed around to the crew. Everyone wants a look.
A masthead wind indicator is my most helpful aid when sailing. I look aloft frequently to check that my sails are trimmed properly to the direction of the wind. The masthead fly is a particularly useful reference when maneuvering and changing course. An osprey once landed on my masthead fly and broke it. I felt hobbled without it. My next masthead fly included a stiff shaft extending upward. I haven’t been bedeviled by a bird since.
A sextant is still a good navigational aid, but most sailors prefer the convenience of GPS. It takes practice to get a precise fix using a sextant, along with an accurate timepiece and a set of tables for calculating position. Still, taking a course on celestial navigation is beneficial. It took me a few years as a maritime cadet to become proficient using a sextant. If I could get a celestial fix within 5 miles of my location, I was happy.
Sailors who want to install a full set of electronics around a chart table should hire a professional. Clearly marked wires will help when repairs are necessary. The best systems should be minimal and easy to use.
Take the time to learn how to use each piece of equipment. So start with a compass, and expand from there.
Sailing Hall of Fame inductee and co-President Gary Jobson is a winning America’s Cup tactician, writer, broadcaster and CW editor-at-large.
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