Passage Planning Companion

By Alastair Buchan
Published by Wiley Nautical, April 2008

Finally a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to safe passage planning that makes sure every aspect is covered and nothing is forgotten. In many countries you are required by law to plan your passage for each voyage. It is an offence not to have done so and not to have it onboard. Officials can ask for it to be produced at any time, although for pleasure crafts this is only likely to happen after some incident. Nevertheless, it pays for every sailor to have the knowledge bestowed by our Passage Planning Companion.

Passage Planning Companion is your guide to writing a clear, easily understood passage plan, which follows a logical sequence that mirrors the passage being made.

This practical guide contains a series of headings, prompts and tips to help prepare a passage plan. The companion is laid down the side of a sheet of paper and the plan for that voyage is written down opposite each heading and prompt. The user-friendly layout will cover every kind of voyage from a trip round the bay to an ocean crossing.

Topics covered include routing, pilotage, points of departure, landfalls, weather, tides and currents, safe havens, lights, communications, watch keeping, safety checks and drills, rations, fuel supplies, safety checks and drills, stowage for sea, skipper’s standing orders and crew briefing.

About The Author

Alastair Buchan began sailing on the Clyde in the 1950’s. In a Hurley 20 (20ft!) he has sailed singlehanded round Britain, and crossed the Atlantic twice. In a Dockrell 27 (27ft) he made a singlehanded Atlantic circuit, from Britain to the USA via Venezuela and Cuba – and back home.

ISBN: 978-0-470-72790-4 Paperback Original: £7.99/€11.20

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Or for US queries, please contact Lori Sayde Mehrtens