Leaderboard

Yes, RYA courses by several organisations, coastguard, Auckland sailing school, etc. theory and practical.

Has anyone ever heard of pilotage? You know, when you look out the window, look at the colour of the water, the depth, location of the land and understand your geographical position with it? You don't need a chart for any of that. Not in an emergency. Name a passage in the Huaraki Gulf or Norhtland Coast you couldn't complete without a chart? We don't have tidal rips, there are no currents setting east or west like the English Channel. We don't have tides like Brittany. The one tidal gate in NZ is at D'Urville Island, long way from the Gulf. Any passage the in the gulf can

Lots of books on it. My favorite was Mary Blewitt.

Just need Rouge II and Ripple Effect to cruise Mahurangi... the would be music sorted for the entire region.

"The chart says you cannot pass through there" "Here, hold my rum" Don Jamison

PS, just to blow my own counter arguement, I have paper charts onboard. I always fold them into 8ths and keep them in a canvas zip close folder. My main reason for carrying them is so I can spread them on the saloon table and show the kids where we are going. Also have several at home for the same purpose. But to be honest, I actually used the chart plotter to show them each day's passage. I've done Blind Navigation exercises in the UK as part of my RYA Yachtmaster training. It teaches a different way of thinking and answering questions other than relying on the common modern conveniences

So did charts help, or give a false sense of security in that one? Pilotage (i.e. looking at the surrounding land) of that area would tell you it is a rock strewn coast, unpredictable changes in depth, and best to stand well off. Chart possibly indicates it is clear inside the 5m contour, when in actual fact, its a jumble of rocks. Some deep, some not so deep.

For me, its a bit of Bill Bryson-ism: "What is it about maps? I could look at them all day, earnestly studying the names of towns and villages I have never heard of and will never visit...” Replace towns and villages with coves and bays and its pretty close.