Monthly Archives: September 2020

Understanding Relative Motion

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A few weeks back, in a discussion regarding the effectiveness of whether ’tis better to alter course for large cargo ships far in advance, or to proceed boldly ahead until the ColRegs take hold, I noted that relative motion diagrams are not all that commonly understood. Whilst most will not have occasion to whip out a maneuvering board and hand-draw a plot, understanding relative motion is still a key part of interpreting motion on a radar screen.

Here is my initial attempt at a short slide deck explaining the basics of relative motion and how to use that in evaluating crossing situations at sea:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-zx4r2QvN90tAFsvS3CJqxFO6LRbtmoMk3baTVetLgc/edit?usp=sharing

A Bit of Nautical Trivia

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When I first began sailing I heard a tale that the US practice of placing the red buoys to the starboard side of channels, a reversal to the current practice in Europe and elsewhere, came about as an attempt to trick the English during the American Revolutionary War. In a true hallmark of an urban legend, I later ran across similar stories, with only the war replaced.

A vessel outbound in the San Francisco Main Shipping Channel

I therefore present what I consider a correct answer to “what’s with the Americans?”, as well as the origin of the starboard tack rule. In short, the Americans were not simply being contrary, and the starboard tack rule is relatively recent (if relatively, to you, encompasses the 18th century). Onwards…

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No love for the GPS?

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In the classic “Ten Essentials” list published in the 1974 edition of Freedom of the Hills, two of the slots are reserved for a map and compass.  Modern versions bundle them into a single item under “navigation”, but the two are still considered the fundamental tools of wilderness navigation.  In the mountains an altimeter is also suggested.  Finally, a GPS device may be suggested as a supplement, often with warnings about the risks of electronics in the backcountry.

For the casual hiker this ordering of advice may cause more problems than it solves.  The reality is that as more people discover the outdoors, fewer of them can be expected to attain the same level of skills as those of yesteryear.  Being capable with a magnetic compass, a skill once considered fundamental, may soon be considered too much too hope for.  We are left with the less-savorable position of dealing with the world as it is, rather than the world as we would like it to be.

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