Boats on water move in all directions. Once your brain gets wired for this, it can plan your next move. You can predict the movements. Your brain thrives on planning. Your body is designed to move. People with active plans, who are given any physical jobs to keep the boat moving , like steering the ship, are the ones you need. To get them seasick, do the opposite, have them sit still and shut up
TRAIN YOUR CREW IN NAVIGATION AND OPERATION IN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF A VOYAGE.
LOOK FOR:
Wind - direction, strength, duration, how it feels on your face and ears. Your eyes see its effect on waves & flags
Wave - how many directions they come from and travel to. spacing & size of that ripple. Your boat's response.
Horizons - Objects floating and fixed, near and far. Sailing toward and object. Sailing toward a compass point.
Passage - Other boats on your fixed course. Rules of right away & collision avoidance. How are you predictable to them?
Rocks - The shape of land as it continues under the water. Silt & sand deposits by currents. Your safe depth, & speed.
Tides - More than depth of a channel or anchorage, is the movements of currents, see the rivers with big back-eddies.
Grids - on your Chart, draw the lines from the landmarks to your ship, by looking through the Hand Compass at the mark.
SKY - The location of the sun & shadows on your ship, Same for the marked stars & moon; how many degrees from north?
Clouds- pushed up or down? Heavy or fluffy, fast or slow in what direction? Is that rain, or an updraft near the mountain?
VIDEOS:
Using the sun to find where you are:
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Basic use of a Chart:
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AND a Map:
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