Preview: Coastal Navigation, Part 1 – Charts & Buoys

34 Responses So Far to “Coastal Navigation, Part 1 – Charts & Buoys”

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  Bill Barton says:

  Jane, thank you. Love your pace and clarity. I learn something every time I am on the water and that started about 9 years old. Today is raining with forecast of gale force winds. We are new residents in Brooklin after some 48 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Great way to spend a rainy day and yes, learn something. Cant wait for spring to be sprung! Early April now. Best, Bill and Marcia

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  Eric Child says:

  Great resource(s) thank you…!

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  Brad Kurlancheek says:

  Whatever you’re paying Ms. Ahlfeld, it’s not enough. A pleasure to watch and quite well done. Thank you.

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  Jon Morris says:

  Fantastic! I learned more in this video than I did in the OUPV course I took last year.

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  John Hughes says:

  I thought that after 60 years of sailing in one way or another, I was pretty familiar with Chart 1, but the fact that on a R/W center-channel buoy, the vertical line indicates that the red-and-white-striping is vertical (and that on a R/G ‘go either side’ hazard buoy, the horizontally divided diamond indicates horizontal striping) had escaped me. I did at least know that when a horizontally striped buoy is labeled RG, it means that red is on top, and that GR means that green is on top.

  The whole presentation was just a treat to listen to, though. One thing that’d be great is if you could include some pictures of the various “on shore” features. What’s the difference between “tank” and “tower”, for instance? Between “house” and “building”? Is the frequently square-towered catholic church marked with “spire” the same way the typical new-england presbyterian church spire is marked, or is there some other name for that?

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  John Simlett says:

  Really useful. I echo Phil Myer (above) ….. only I’m British… We use ‘boys’ rather than
  ‘booees’ (separated by a common language) and the reversal of red and green.

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  Timothy Case says:

  Thank you, Jane Ahlfeld, and OCH for providing this series. This is worth every penny (again!) of membership to Off Center Harbor. Beautifully delivered, expert information.

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  Christopher J. Perry Perry says:

  Fantastic! so excited to see this video feature. Embarrassed to say learned something in first 10 minutes….Excellent instructor.

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  jim hilty says:

  I knew at the outset that this would be an informative, well-presented video when I noticed that Jane Ahlfeld was the instructor. I had the distinct good fortune in having Ms. Ahlfeld as instructor in the Elements of Sail class at the Wooden Boat School in Maine.

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  John Carlson says:

  Wonderful clear and informative presentation. Explained much that I did not know, and corrected some assumptions concerning depth markings. Love that we had actual video of the markers in question doing their job. Marvelous stuff as always from OCH!

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  Wendy Henderson says:

  Excellent, clear and concise! One question I was hoping with baited ears to have answered – what is the round circle at the top of the vertical RW buoy such as “EE” and some others? My guess: more radar reflective power but I have never found an explanation?

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    Jane Ahlfeld says:

    Hi Wendy, My understanding is that the red circle on the top of the RW buoy is another way to differentiate them from each other. The symbol on the chart: a diamond with a vertical line, has a smaller circle on top for RW’s with the circle, and no top circle on the symbol if there is no circle. The circle at the bottom of the diamond marks the location of the buoy.

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      John Hughes says:

      The red circle at the top indicates a “ball topmark”, a round “bal”l that’s above the normal part of the buoy. You can see this “ball” (which is really made from two intersecting disks!) at 3:48 in the video. The ball topmark can be useful when you’re looking at one of these near sunset/sunrise, when it’s easy for the white part of the buoy to look red, but the shape of the ball is really distinctive.

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  Peter Hendrickson says:

  First rate integration of chart, voice, gestures, call outs…great content with both depth and breadth. Peter (Wilderness Navigation Instructor, The Mountaineers, Seattle)

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  David L Schroeder says:

  I first learned navigation in Navy Officer Candidate School, Newport, RI, April to August, 1968. What I remember most is the “Red Right Returning Even” ditty. I later studied charts in the American Sailing Association classes to become certified with a “bareboat charter” certificate. This video series with Jane Ahlfeld is the most clear and understandable navigation instruction I have ever experienced! Thank you! Your efforts will no doubt save lives and property!

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  Kaci Cronkhite says:

  You’re a wonderful teacher, Jane! Thanks for picking Eggemoggin Reach and for including the sounds of the bell and gong. Love how OCH videos weave education and the expertise of a cool, friendly person with vicarious travel. Thank you!

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  David Braun says:

  Great presentation, clear and concise. Just the right dialogue speed. Look forward to more.

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  William English says:

  Very clear, concise and USEFUL! Well done!

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  Ed Salva says:

  great thank you

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  Becky Belding says:

  Great to see navigation videos…please keep them coming!

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  Burton Blais says:

  She is amazing. Even old salts need a review once in a while.

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  ramon rodriguez says:

  Finest kind. Thank you.

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  Chris Methot says:

  Excellent video. The part about the depth (and bridge height) notations being worst case is a good way to think about it. I always did until I was cruising Eggemoggin in 2015.

  Of course the notation is actually mean low tide (or high, in the case of a bridge). I had deliberately picked a date for the cruise that coincided with a full moon because I thought it would be more romantic. Of course I knew what mean represents, it is the average. Anyone who lives near the coast knows that during the full moon you often get splash over at high tide. Full moon tides are known as ‘spring tide’ regardless of what the season is. That splash over is mother nature establishing the ‘mean’ high tide. In order for mean high tide about half the time high tide has to be higher than mean high tide.

  I knew all that too. What I hadn’t considered was that the same applies to low tide markings. So, there I was going inside if Pumpkin island during a spring tide, at low tide with a boat that drew 7 feet.

  I got to .6 feet by the depth sounder (while it was buzzing) and that drove home the point. I never hit a thing and of course if I had all I would have had to do is wait as the tide was coming in.

  The point is thinking of the numerical markings as worst case can be dangerous.

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    Paul Harsch says:

    Points well taken. Lesson I suppose is to never cut it close and instead leave a margin for error, especially under certain conditions.

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  Bradley Myhre says:

  Wow! What a great teacher. Thank you for making this video.

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  Frank Miller says:

  Great video keep them coming

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  Doug Duffield says:

  Great video thank you

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  William McCaffrey says:

  Excellent! Can’t wait for part 2. Thank you Jane for sharing your expertise.

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  Ian Latham says:

  This is a fabulous video. Clear as a bell, great watching, great learning. Thank you.

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  Christoph Harlan says:

  Extremely well done. Great presentation! After just having participated in this year’s Small Reach Regatta, I could actually recall seeing many of the specific markers. Thank you!

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  Paul Russotto says:

  I have been sailing/boating for over 40 years and thought that I knew all that was needed as far as charts go. However, it was refreshing to hear Jane explain the less common details of buoys and how they relate to navigational hazard. Can’t wait for episode #2!

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  Mark Carwell says:

  Thanks for such a great instructional presentation. I look forward to the next segment!

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  Prescott Powers says:

  Such a clear, well crafted and presented video! Thank you-

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  Philip Myer says:

  Great series Steve, Jane is a wonderful lecturer. Not only do we Australians in the USofA have to drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road you guys have put the buoys ( in Aussie lingo- ‘boys’ not booees’ ) on the wrong side of the channel ! our phrase is “there is no ‘red’ ‘port’ ‘left’ in the bottle !
  I suppose we Aussies have to give up drinking when we are reading american charts- look forward to the next episode