Pilotage

Pilotage Plans

Start with corrected, suitable-scale charts and the relevant Sailing Directions, List of Lights, notices, tide data, weather, harbour instructions and traffic information. Test the plan a...

• Use current charts, publications, tide, weather and local instructions
• Give every stage a track, time, cue, depth, clearing limit and next decision

Transits and Leading Lines

First identify every object and confirm the intended line from the chart or publication. Similar buildings, seasonal foliage, background lights and an obscured lower mark can create a con...

• Correctly identified aligned marks give one line of position
• Use an independent observation when a complete fix is required

Clearing Bearings

Plot a line from a conspicuous charted object that clears the danger by a deliberate margin. Measure the bearing in the vessel-to-object direction, shade or label the danger side, and tes...

• Plot a boundary with a deliberate safety margin and identify its safe side
• Write the inequality and true, magnetic or compass reference together

IALA Buoyage System — Region A

The UK uses Region A, where port-hand lateral marks are red and starboard-hand marks green in the conventional direction of buoyage. Region B reverses those lateral colours. The direction...

• Confirm region and charted conventional direction before reading lateral sides
• Classify one of six principal families, including emergency wreck marking

Lateral Marks

A Region A port-hand mark is red and may be can-shaped or carry a can topmark; a starboard-hand mark is green and may be conical or carry a cone topmark. Pillars and spars also occur, so...

• Region A port hand: red with can shape or topmark when fitted
• Region A starboard hand: green with cone shape or topmark when fitted

Cardinal Marks

North has both cone points up and black over yellow; south has both points down and yellow over black. East has points apart with bases together and black-yellow-black bands; west has poi...

• North: points up, black over yellow, continuous Q or VQ white
• East: points apart, black-yellow-black, Q(3) or VQ(3)

Other Marks

An isolated danger mark is black with one or more broad red horizontal bands, carries two black spheres when practicable and shows white Fl(2) if lit. It is on or near a danger with navig...

• Isolated danger: black/red bands, two spheres, white Fl(2)—danger at or near mark
• Safe water: red/white vertical stripes, one sphere, prescribed white rhythm

Night Pilotage

Prepare from the current chart, Sailing Directions, List of Lights, notices and local instructions. For every critical light record the complete repeating characteristic and period, colou...

• Match characteristic, period, colour, position and structure—not colour alone
• Read sector purpose and boundaries from the chart rather than a universal colour rule

Pilotage Plan Preparation

Appraise the approach on a suitable-scale, corrected chart with current Sailing Directions, lights, notices, tide, weather, port control and local regulations. Mark no-go water, intended...

• Appraise with current charts, publications, local controls and actual conditions
• Write gates with cue, limit, report, action and abort response

Yachtmaster Offshore Standard

Build one coherent con. State who has the con, who steers, who keeps the outside lookout, who monitors depth and position, and who handles communications or deck preparation. Use closed-l...

Advanced Scenario Check

Your yacht is holding outside a fictional harbour at night. Port signals permit movement, but a ferry reports that it is departing. One leading light becomes obscured by background lighti...