Powerboat Advanced Trainer Revalidations

Night Passage Top Tips

During your leg of the night exercise, you will want to both practice implementing #DigitalFirst, and show your skills as an Advanced Trainer. These top tips are designed to help you do that.

  • Use Digital Sources of information (e.g. EasyTide, VisitMyHarbour)
  • Be Robust, and ensure your plans include all the usual areas such as VHF Channels, Speed Limits and other byelaws etc
  • Create a Digital Sketch (backed up on two devices) OR a paper sketch/notes with a backup photo
  • Must use RADAR
  • Must use depth
  • Should have a WPT for 'general awareness'
  • Must use a hand-bearing compass
  • Needs an idea of time/speed/distance (as always)
  • Must have carefully named WPTs
  • Must be in the ships plotter (WiFi, SD card, or manual input)
  • Must be robust
  • Must have easy to monitor (verify) WPTs
  • Must be efficient (i.e. just inside the channel for planing, on the stbd side. Outside the channel for X marks the spot exercises)
  • Need bearings & distances recorded separately (photo, notebook etc)

How to be successful

You may be tempted to throw everything you can at your night exercise, and spend extensive time on the planning. This could over-complicate the task, and it's important to remember that #DigitalFirst is about letting the devices do the heavy lifting, so you can concentrate on the seamanship and application.

There's a lot to take in, we know that. The training team will be able to offer assistance as time allows, but if you really want to show you're on top of it, here's some best practice:

  • Use of a 'live observation' technique for weather or tide (websites like BrambleMet, tide guages etc)
  • Clear and obvious application of APEM (Appraise, Plan, Execute and Monitor)
  • Use of RYA SafeTrX
  • Use of 'Vectors' on plotter for projected EP/DR
  • Pre-measured XTD limits & visible features en-route identified
  • Use of Radar for exclusion zones
  • Target tracking under-way using radar
  • #DigitalFirst aids Seamanship. Remember your crew, remember the boat, and be safe.
  • Overall it must be robust, and have redundancy

Slightly tongue-in-cheek to call them demerits, but here are some of the things we've observed that catch people out. You have been warned!

  • Failure to use Night Mode/reduced brightness
  • Failure to manage crew effectively and use them as assistants
  • Spending excessive time staring at a screen
  • Not having all the detail on the plan (failure to be robust)
  • Not knowing where you are or where you are going
  • Not complying with IRPCS and keeping a good look out
  • Failure to react appropriately to other vessels

Summary

If it works on paper, it should work on a screen and vice-versa. Do not try and reinvent the wheel, do not leave anything to chance, and remember - the digital aspects can help with the heavy lifting (maths) so that you can concentrate on all of the other aspects.

James Davies

Some of my work as a maritime professional, occasional chef, and amateur developer. Here you can see some of my projects, buy me a coffee, and get in touch.
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