The switch to Digital Navigation

A changing world

For years, instructors have taught leisure sailors and motorboat skippers to use paper charts and “traditional” navigation tools as a primary and approved method of navigation, backed up with some use of a boat’s electronic toys.

However, as the electronics have become more sophisticated and easier to use, navigators have quite reasonably tended to use them in preference to the old methods. This does introduce some risks and over-reliance on inadequate tools with little knowledge of their limitations has caused several accidents.

Major providers of charts around the world, including the UK Hydrographic office, have decided that it is not viable to update and print paper charts in a world where large commercial ships are no longer required to carry and small boat users are buying far fewer of these products. We are expecting to lose many, if not all, of the paper charts by 2030.

In response to this there is ongoing discussion about producing electronic tools which are” approved for navigation” in the leisure and small boat market.

The new buzz words – Digital First

Our Chief Instructor, Rich, (An RYA Yachtmaster™ Instructor Trainer and RYA Yachtmaster™ Examiner one of only 16 in the world!) has been busy on RYA training duties, coaching instructors on how to teach courses where the electronic tools available, both on the boat and in our pockets are used as primary sources of information.

We have also been looking at how we ensure the tools are used properly with sensible methods and back-checks to make sure we are really on the desired track and remaining safe.

These checks mean that although we are operating all the digital tools as fully as we can, we still have the “old methods” and paper products available alongside the new ones.

So, Digital first, does not mean digital only. It is just a change in focus to ensure navigators operating in the real world use all available means, realising when they need to use different methods to make safety checks and sensible decisions.

Digital first - In practice

When planning a passage, we can gather lots of data from our phones and the web. There are some great sources of weather forecasts, tidal height data (even for secondary ports) and pilotage information on apps and websites. This can save loads of time and deliver much more useful information than was available in the past.

Chartplotters can be used to create routes made from a series of sensible waypoints and even have auto routing functions which can save time but require proper set up if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises like running aground, hitting overhead cables or receiving a dressing down from the harbour authorities as you stray into banned areas.

The sensible navigator will check multiple sources of data and it is often wise to look at a fully opened paper chart to sanity check your routing.

Once on passage, your chartplotter, Radar, AIS and depth sounder can be used to help monitor your progress, taking on much of the hard work. Combining their use with traditional techniques such as compass bearings, transits and plotting your fix as you pass charted objects, will provide the additional certainty you need and allow you to check the accuracy of your electronics.

Once in pilotage mode, approaching a new harbour for the first time, it is still best to prepare a plan, ahead of time rather than stare at a chartplotter screen, but you can replace a paper pilotage plan with one written up on your waterproof phone or tablet.

Theory courses

For 2025 www.sailingcourseonline.co.uk in conjunction with www.urbantruant.co.uk we have already updated our RYA Day Skipper Online Course to reflect the changes in the syllabus. We are very proud of the fact that we can make these changes in real time due to all content and our platform-based support being managed internally, and as we are also a RYA Practical Training Centre we can use our practical skills to make online learning realistic and relevant.

We are super excited to share our course and content with you to help you achieve your goals.

RYA state: Over time the requirements of an approved system and electronic charts will become clearer, allowing us to dive much deeper into simulator- and manufacturer-specific training for digital first navigation on fully integrated navigation systems.