While the first few days of the season are sailed almost exclusively in the home area, the two- to three-week summer cruise is often sailed through the home area, where the fairways are just as familiar as the harbours and their approaches, the constellation of winds from different directions - in other words, everything that needs to be taken into account for careful cruise planning.
It goes without saying that this is part of good seamanship. It also goes without saying that the topic is comprehensive, as it includes equipping the boat, instructing the crew, detailed route planning and safe navigation underway.
Cruise planning for unknown waters is both a challenge and an art
However, all of this becomes particularly exciting when travelling to new regions - whether on your own keel or with a charter boat. This is because knowledge of the area means that a crucial aspect for planning a trip is missing: the experience in the home area that helps to correctly assess sailing there in a wide variety of conditions.
For example, the effects of one wind direction prevailing in a body of water over a longer period of time. Or what happens when the water depth off a coast drops abruptly, waves are reflected and unpleasant cross seas can be the result in a certain wind direction.
So how do you anticipate the conditions for a previously unknown territory? What sources of information help, what are the basic rules? How do you draw the right conclusions from research in cruising guides, nautical charts and weather reports, even without local knowledge? And: Is this precisely the challenge when it comes to sailing in unfamiliar waters - or is it just an overly theoretical, perhaps even overly cerebral approach?
Not at all, says Leon Schulz. The 59-year-old has been an instructor for the British Royal Yachting Association (RYA) for 15 years and helps sailors on their way to becoming Yachtmaster Offshore and Ocean. The training programme is known and respected for its practical orientation. Nevertheless, there are theory lessons. And so much importance is attached to the subject of cruise planning that Schulz's courses last a full six days.
Cruise planning is investigation, planning, realisation, comparison with reality
Finding the right and relevant information is an art," says the instructor. It is not without reason that an entire block of the theoretical RYA training is dedicated to the question of where to get the essential information for cruise planning. This block is called "Appraisal". Literally translated, this means something like "examination", "assessment" and "evaluation". In terms of content, it means searching for and assessing information for the sailing area. "It involves the clear collection of information, evaluation and interpretation of the sources," explains Leon Schulz. "This step is not yet about the details, such as where the petrol station is in the port of departure and how to get out of the port."
This only happens in the next step of the approach according to the RYA standard, "planning". This is followed by the steps "Execution" (the implementation of the so-called passage plan, taking into account the prevailing conditions) and "Monitoring" (comparison of the planned course with reality). These training components are even laid down in the Solas Convention of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and are therefore also instructions for commercial shipping. It is therefore not completely wrong for sailors to follow this approach when preparing for navigation - starting with the search for and evaluation of sources.
"Reading is king," says Leon Schulz. His tip for areas around Europe: the "Reeds Almanac". "It's got everything in it - including phone numbers you can call if you need more information." If you are travelling outside Europe, you should look for the relevant pilot books and area guides. Specialised bookshops such as Hansenautic or in the English-speaking area Bookharbour.
Experience is worth its weight in gold
Robert Eichler, owner of Yachtsportschule Eichler on the Elbe, takes a similar approach. With his skippers, he devotes himself to the literature for cruise planning for foreign areas, even as a team, usually in twos or threes. "We take a look: What is navigationally attractive, what is navigationally dangerous, what is impossible?" says Eichler. The information about the climate and weather conditions is then used to determine the time window "in which this area can be realistically and reasonably navigated".
The focus is then on the navigational characteristics of the region. Two practical examples: "The further north you go, the more frequently the problem of magnetic anomalies occurs. In other words, a completely chaotic deviation," explains Robert Eichler. "This can be very dangerous when sailing under autopilot and, in the worst case, can cost you your boom or rig." Another regional speciality in northern Europe: currents in narrow approaches to the Norwegian fjords. "It can gurgle in or out there at ten or twelve knots."
So how do you manage not to overlook any of these relevant clues - and how do you assess them correctly? "It depends on the area as to what you need to look at exactly," says Leon Schulz. "I primarily differentiate between static and dynamic information." The static information is always the same and can be taken from nautical charts, for example shoals. Dynamic information, such as wind, current or tide, changes from day to day and is more difficult to obtain. This also includes shooting exercises, positions of manoeuvring workboats or fishing nets.
Professional skipper Schulz: "If you get this information about an area you've already been to, you can of course interpret it much better. That's experience - and it's worth its weight in gold. But the newer you are or the less experienced you are, the more difficult it is to interpret all the warnings."
Translating information into reality
One example: Anyone familiar with the Portuguese Atlantic coast will quickly come across the information that the approaches to the harbour towns on the estuaries there can be very dangerous due to breaking waves. Certain harbours are then even closed and docking is prohibited. "You can find information in the sailing guide, for example, that you shouldn't sail in there in strong south-westerly winds - but what does strong south-westerly wind mean?" says Leon Schulz.
In other words, what does what you read actually mean? There are certainly some generally applicable rules, such as that steep waves can occur when the wind is against the current. But this is exactly where a source of information comes into play that can help much better than the sailing guide in case of doubt. Schulz calls it "local knowledge", i.e. the local knowledge of sailors, fishermen or harbour operators. Local sailing clubs and their websites or a phone call are a good source of local knowledge. Some larger clubs in challenging areas, such as the Irish Cruising Club or the Scottish Cruising Club in Forth, even publish their own area guides.
In German-speaking countries, the Trans-Ocean association is a good place to go for information about sailing areas that are not on your doorstep: The members' magazine publishes cruise reports from all over the world, and members can ask questions about sailing areas in the association forum and WhatsApp groups. The bases around the world are not only contact points, but also a source of information about local specialities for sailors. In addition, there have long been Facebook groups for many areas, in which there is a lively exchange about the respective region, which also goes beyond navigational peculiarities.
Social media help with cruise planning
Swarm knowledge beyond social media can also help. Leon Schulz, for example, recommends taking a look at Navily, an app that primarily contains information on anchorages and harbours, but also provides further information on the area. Navigation apps also have functions where users can share their experiences, such as Active Captain from Garmin. Of course, you need to scrutinise these sources very carefully, but you should definitely take them into account when heading to a new sailing area for the first time.
Another option for planning a cruise if you want to sail in a previously unknown region is to explore it from land first. For example, if you dream of sailing in Brittany or Ireland, but would like to get to know the harbours and coasts beforehand, you could drive the tour in a hire car during your land-based holiday. At least in Europe, this is easy to do. Schulz's experience: "You can quickly strike up a conversation with people in the harbours." In this way, you can find out first-hand what you need to pay particular attention to when approaching the marina and throughout the area.
Moderate conditions in the new precinct create security
Approaching things gradually in this way is therefore definitely an option. Or exploring an area under supervision, i.e. sailing a charter trip with a skipper or booking a sailing trip with a sailing school. "This gives you a head start in terms of knowledge, which helps you to be able to assess the local conditions later on your own," says Schulz. It then makes sense to discuss this interpretation with the crew. A step-by-step approach can also include expanding your sailing radius bit by bit and initially sailing in new areas, especially in moderate conditions.
So there's no getting round it: sailing and navigation is all about gaining experience. Including how to get the information you need to plan the right trip. So that you can then transfer this approach to the next new sailing area. Nonetheless, good planning should of course also be done on the doorstep. Because it is precisely when you feel too confident that the risk of making mistakes due to carelessness increases.
Checklist: Ready for your cruise?
Obtain information
- Check the weather forecast. Clarify what conditions prevail in and after leaving the harbour. Can the crew and ship be expected to leave the harbour?
- Check the information in the nautical chart, harbour handbook and area guide. Are these up-to-date and do they correctly represent the conditions? Are current warnings noted?
- Check tides. In tidal areas, plan when the best moment to leave is. Does current set in the exit - and where to? When is there enough water, for example over a bar? When is there slack water?
- Check navigation instruments. Are the depth sounder, chart plotter, radio etc. working? Are they set correctly?
- View the exit. What is the situation like: are there shallows, traffic, waves?
- Announce the destination. Inform harbour master, friends or family about departure time and destination
Crew ready for action
- Start well rested. Is everyone fit for the trip?
- Prepare catering. Prepare provisions and drinks for the journey and keep them to hand
- The right clothing. Apply sun cream before setting off and put on your oilskin if necessary
- Put on the lifejacket. Is it ready for use and does it fit properly on the body?
- Familiarisation. Everyone should be familiar with the basics (radio, toilet) and know their emergency role
- Discuss casting off and departure manoeuvres. Assign tasks and explain the processes as precisely as necessary
- Consider alternative plans. What to do if the engine breaks down? Where is it possible to go alongside in an emergency?
Clear on deck
- Prepare the sails. Take off the tarpaulins, have the sails hoisted and clear for setting; secure them from blowing out. If necessary, tie in a reef
- Rig control. Are all cotter pins secured? What condition are the shrouds, their tensioners, the shackles, halyards and sheets in?
- Secure loose items of equipment against flying around and falling overboard. For example, the dinghy or canister on deck
- Clear and fix the anchor. Instruct crew members in handling
- Check function of all navigation lights
- Disconnect the shore power connection and stow the cable away clean and dry
- Tensioning stretch rope, explaining picking with lifeline
Clear below deck
- Lake festival dam. Stow all loose objects in the ship so that they do not fly across the ship with the first wave
- Bilge control. Is there water in it? If so: unusually much? A taste test can reveal where the water comes from
- Close seacocks and hatches carefully. Water can enter the boat from the outside in both ways. But the inspection is often forgotten
- Machine check. Check fuel level, refuel if necessary. Clean or replace dirty filters, check oil level and cooling water jet, instruct fellow sailors on starting and stopping the engine
- Close the gas supply. Also store loose utensils safely in the pantry and provide provisions
