News and Stories

Passage plan

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June 13, 2023
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Author:
ACC Team
Subject:
Safety first

First: passage plan is legally required by SOLAS regulation. But more important than that: ensure to you, crew and vessel safety.

Passage Planning

What top have in consideration

First: passage plan is legally required by SOLAS regulation. But more important than that: ensure to you, crew and vessel safety.

Tha passage plan can be very comprehesive plan or just a brief notes from your voyage. It depends on several factors. But in general we need to check the following:

  • Where are we going - how many miles, cruising speed, ETA, waypoints
  • Weather and tides (if apply) – how strong will be the wind and sea. Are we going with or against it? Check windy.com or passage planing. Also tide diamonds or/or atlas.
  • Check sails for the type of weather - storm jib(?), jib, reefs, downwind sails in light winds.
  • Hazards – where are they, what to do, distance to pass
  • Plan B – where to go/stop or anchor in case we have an issue with the boat or crew. Or just some weather change
  • Night sail - avoid to cross TSS at night or enter into an harbour that you don´t know at night
  • Crew and boat strength – take that in consideration share your plan with the crew and someone ashore

Material

  • Charts (raster and vectorial)
  • Nautical publications
  • Electronics

Checks before you leave

  • Correct ships documents
  • Fuel
  • Gas
  • Water
  • Food
  • Spare parts
  • Engine
  • Sails
  • Rigging
  • Safety equipment
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