{"id":43056,"date":"2021-08-11T16:23:25","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T20:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=43056"},"modified":"2023-05-06T17:34:07","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T21:34:07","slug":"nautical-chart-smarts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/story\/how-to\/nautical-chart-smarts\/","title":{"rendered":"Nautical Chart Smarts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"San <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n In fair weather, Mount Baker looms over the San Juan Islands. That\u2019s when those navigating the deepwater \u00adchannels and granite-clad coastline have it easy.<\/span>\n Courtesy Ralph Naranjo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

As with most popular chartering destinations, sailing the San Juan Islands tests the navigation skills of a visiting sailor, while at the same time providing for a memorable getaway with family and friends. The trick is to arrive in new cruising grounds with a fair understanding of what you\u2019ll find when you get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Using the Pacific Northwest as an example, it\u2019s easy, with chart in hand or called up on a tablet screen, to recognize the spectacular features of the area. And the best way to put Puget Sound and the Salish Sea in perspective and begin planning a trip there is with a wide-angle (small-scale) view of the entire region. Use the chart in combination with detailed descriptions in the Coast Pilot<\/i> and numerous cruising guides to develop an overall perspective. So, regardless of whether you sail or fly to this remote destination, you\u2019ll arrive with an awareness of its cruising bounty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

While doing this pre-\u00adcharter planning\u2014or when preparing to sail your own boat to a new destination, for that matter\u2014factor in the time of the year and look closely at how the seasons change. Check the percentage of gales and calms called out on traditional pilot charts and in contemporary climate-\u00admodel data. Download weather maps produced and archived by the Ocean Prediction Center (ocean.weather.gov). Note the similarities and differences between your local sailing conditions and what you\u2019ll find in the San Juans. Details such as an awareness of the tidal range, its impact on currents and the local aids to navigation are important. You\u2019ll know you\u2019ve done enough homework if your first cruise in the Pacific Northwest makes you feel as though you\u2019ve been there before. This level of situational awareness helps to minimize surprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

For example, each \u00admeteorological mood shift results in a change in sea state, especially in the tight passes between islands and in semiprotected anchorages. Be ready for the effect that spring tides have on surface currents, especially when bolstered by winds in sync with the set and drift of the current. It pays to refer to a current table or a digital current display when planning each day\u2019s route. The bottom line when you\u2019re sailing unfamiliar waters and approaching a new anchorage or marina is to envision the challenges, mentally rehearse your approach, and don\u2019t let strong currents and a large tidal range go unnoticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Echo <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Both of these large-scale charts show excellent detail of the Echo Bay anchorage, enclosed in the horseshoe-shaped Sucia Island. Note that the chart to the left is a digital raster version of a NOAA paper chart. To the right is an S-57 Vector ENC. The North and South finger islands, called out on the raster chart, show different soundings than the vector chart, which relies on a more recent survey, and some variation in symbology. But switching from one to the other is not difficult.<\/span>\n Courtesy Ralph Naranjo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

I prefer to have alternate anchorages in the game plan, and the one finally chosen usually has as much to do with tomorrow morning\u2019s weather as it does with the conditions of the moment. For example, in the charts depicting Sucia Islands and the Echo Bay anchorage (above), I liked the mud bottom and ample swinging room, but I would have gone elsewhere if the forecast had indicated SE winds of 15 to 20 knots or more. It\u2019s no fun having to bail out of a good anchorage gone bad. It\u2019s even worse when it happens in the middle of the night in unfamiliar waters. So make the choice on where to drop the hook with tomorrow\u2019s weather in mind, not just current conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Chartering out of Anacortes or Bellingham puts you in the heart of the San Juan Islands. Arrival at a charter company\u2019s home base usually mixes boat familiarization with resortlike excitement. Make sure you don\u2019t miss out on the valuable local knowledge conveyed during the briefing. Whenever an experienced local sailor starts pointing to destinations on a chart and detailing the local cruising grounds, I pay close attention. His or her overview and recommendations about local highlights and places to avoid should be noted. If you\u2019ve done the right homework, it probably sounds familiar. Jot down what comes as a big surprise, and later on determine how and why you missed it in your pre-arrival charter planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"vector <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n This vector chart reveals a survey-accuracy overlay that ranks six different levels of reliability. In this case, they range from six stars (accurate to within 16 feet) to the letter U, which stands for \u201cunassessed.\u201d It\u2019s important to keep track of this Zone of Confidence, because no matter how accurate a GPS signal might be, when the cartography \u00addisplayed is flawed, your location will not be where the chart plotter or tablet indicates.<\/span>\n Courtesy Ralph Naranjo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

I prefer to show up with a tentative itinerary compiled ahead of time. It\u2019s based on crew input and individual sailing interests overlaid on the destination\u2019s features. Often, the same charter region holds appeal to cruising bird-\u00adwatchers as well as bar-\u00adhoppers. If you\u2019re into both, it\u2019s all good; if not, you\u2019ll want to \u00adfine-tune your route according to preferred activities. The easiest alternative is the migration from one mooring area or slip to another, where one good restaurant leads to the next\u2014not a bad fate for those out to relax and saunter among the islands. But, the more you want to stray from the pack, the more decision-making about anchorage appropriateness and route planning you shoulder. Detailed charts become more and more vital. That\u2019s another reason to show up with all the digital charts for the area embedded in a nav program on a laptop, tablet or smartphone that\u2019s as familiar to you as the deck layout of your own boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to keep in mind that these detailed, large-scale charts have some internal variations in accuracy. And every navigator should have the answer to two key questions: What\u2019s the indicated Zone of Confidence ascribed to my location on the chart? And what does the \u201csatellites\u201d page on my GPS receiver indicate about the Horizontal Dilution of Precision? These two factors have a major influence on the GPS\/digital chart\u2019s accuracy, and are most often the culprit when the cursor on your multifunction display screen and your location aren\u2019t one in the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

HDOP is used to describe the relative position of navigation satellites, which \u00adaffects a plotter\u2019s accuracy. A low HDOP value represents more accuracy; a high number, less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Sucia <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Both ENC and RNC rely on accurate, detailed surveys. Notice the \u201cSource\u201d block from a recent raster chart (left) \u00addepicting the waters around Sucia Island (the horseshoe-shaped landmass in the lower middle). This insert shows the channel waters to the north have been well-surveyed and have an \u201cA\u201d rating. However, those interested in exploring Tumbo Island (right) will venture into B5 survey-accuracy waters, which rely on pre-1900 lead line and sextant survey work.<\/span>\n Courtesy Ralph Naranjo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

One of the benefits of NOAA\u2019s new electronic navigational charts is a switch from their old Source Diagram descriptions of survey accuracy to a more user friendly, internationally used ZOC reference block. These inserts on large-scale charts tell chart users when certain parts of a given chart were last surveyed and what anomalies might be encountered. This lack of recent survey data comes as a big surprise to many mariners. For example, detailed charts of many coastal water bodies include large areas labeled in the Source Diagram as B3 and B5 (equivalent to ZOC \u201cC\u201d and \u201cD\u201d designations on an ENC). This indicates that the most recent survey data was pre-1949 and pre-1900, respectively, with position inaccuracy of up to plus or minus 1,600 feet for C and worse than that for D. This means that even with excellent GPS signal strength, an abundance of available satellites and minimal HDOP, your boat could be over a quarter-mile away from where it appears on the digital chart. (On the other hand, ZOC category A1 designates an accuracy of plus or minus 16 feet.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"digital <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n At night or in overcast conditions, digital charts take much of the anxiety out of sailing. The bigger the screen, the better.<\/span>\n Courtesy Ralph Naranjo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

These incongruencies in chart accuracy are explained by NOAA and all other national cartography sources as a manifestation of their primary mission. They provide charts for commercial maritime navigation. Most major, well-marked channels and waters leading to larger port facilities have an A1 or A2 ZOC designation, based on both depth and positional accuracy. Cruisers often favor more off-the-beaten-path parts of a waterway, where surveys have not been a priority and greater variations in chart accuracy exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"May <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Spring and fall gales are predicted well in advance by the NWS Ocean Prediction Center, which offers a wide range of useful offshore, nearshore and coastal forecast info, such as this May 2021 48-hour surface forecast depicting stormy conditions approaching the coast. Their Nowcast \u00addownloads easily, and the area\u2019s great cell coverage completes the picture.<\/span>\n Courtesy Ralph Najaro<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

NOAA\u2019s Coastal Survey is putting new technology to work, and in 2025, the new ENCs will show another leap forward in accuracy and detail. Third-party chart development by companies such as Navionics, C-Map, etc., are making great inroads by \u00adadding detail to those uncharted waters, and their collaboration with NOAA holds promise for sailors cruising among the shoals and exploring skinny waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"San <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Late summers in the Olympic rain shadow that shields the San Juan Islands can be hot and dry, with light airs.<\/span>\n Courtesy Ralph Naranjo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, put your fathometer and radar to use when navigating in regions such as among the San Juan Islands. Their steep, rocky slopes and abundance of beacons, towers, and other charted land-based structures send a crisp return signal that can create an effective radar overlay. Comparing the relationship between the cartography and the radar signals helps confirm location accuracy. It\u2019s also helpful to confirm chart soundings with your depth sounder. Make sure to factor in the tidal range\u2019s influence on the depth readings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"San <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n When you see islands converge and the passes narrow on the chart (left), expect that\u00a0tidal currents will accelerate there. In places such as the San Juan Islands\u2019 straits, spring tides and strong winds exacerbate the tumult (right). Check the chart for mention of tide rips, eddies, currents and overfalls.<\/span>\n Courtesy Ralph Naranjo<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Still, even with the \u00adchallenges, it\u2019s hard to top the rewards of a sailing vacation. As with the landfalls in the Caribbean, the Med and the vast Pacific, the islands of the Pacific Northwest provide a challenging navigation \u00adcurriculum, and the campus for that training can\u2019t be beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Ralph Naranjo is a \u00adcircumnavigator, technical writer, former Vanderstar Chair at the US Naval Academy, and author of <\/i>The Art of Seamanship, among other books.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n

The Charts, They Are A-Changin\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

Sailors from Capt. Cook to Capt. Ron have extolled the value of cartography\u2014and today we have better options than ever before. Most nautical charts, whether digital or paper, are Mercator projections that show latitude and longitude in a perpendicular, girded relationship. This simplifies plotting, handling headings, bearings and distance measurements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Digital vector charts\u2014designated as electronic navigational charts by NOAA and other third-party sources\u2014are taking precedence over the venerable old standby: the raster navigational chart. The latter is a pixelated rendition of NOAA\u2019s paper charts, and many sailors favor its familiar look and symbology. But raster-based NOAA charts are headed to the locker labeled \u201clead lines, RDFs and Loran-C units.\u201d Fortunately, much of the symbology remains consistent between RNCs and ENCs. They might look a bit different, but the latter\u2019s seamless zooming ability involves adding layers of detail, not simply magnifying a fixed picture.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By studying cartography, cruising guides and weather patterns ahead of time, a skipper can enter unfamiliar waters with a good idea of what lies ahead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18238,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Ralph Naranjo","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"20210811","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"164","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"An experienced sailor offers a primer on how to confidently explore new cruising grounds by studying the charts and guides ahead of time.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"4AFLAMCIMNERXJY2AD5W22PQBU","arc_website_url":"story\/how-to\/nautical-chart-smarts\/","custom_permalink":"story\/how-to\/nautical-chart-smarts\/","arc_subtype":"right-sidebar","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":0,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[188,514,183,515,454],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43056"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43056"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43056\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}