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NAVIGATION-II
 

 

 

Navigation
Important reminder
Lateral Buoyage: Zone B, red to starboard, green to port, (the opposite of the European Zone A).
Declination: Around +14°23 (2012) rounded to 14°.
Example: True course 310° = Magnetic course 324°

Dangers and precautions
The atmospheric conditions mentioned above make pilotage fairly simple but they do not remove all dangers, particularly the following:
• coral reefs •conditions of poor visibility
• often inadequate (even non-existent) buoyage in some islands, with sometimes unreliable lights
• the strength of currents in some passages and channels that can set you to one side of your course
• the hurricane season (see introductory section on Cyclones) It follows that in the Antilles (as elsewhere) you must: •navigate carefully and precisely
• not rely only on GPS, nor use autopilot when close to coasts and hazards •avoid night passages (or better, never make them) in some areas
• use passes only in good visibility (anyway subject to change from squalls or from having the sun ahead)
• have aboard all pilotage information, sufficient charts (see section on Charts) and all essential equipment as well as what is required by your country of registry
• have a properly maintained boat and motor
• keep abreast of the weather (especially in the hurricane season).

 

 

     

Buoyage and lights
(See also the section on Cartography and symbols)
It is essential not to forget that the Antilles are part of Zone B (the American continent) of the IALA system and therefore the opposite to the European Zone A.
Example :
Entering a port or a channel with the lateral buoyage system:
Red buoy to Starboard
Green buoy to Port
As far as buoyage is concerned, the Lesser Antilles can be divided into two distinct parts:
The USVI and the French islands where, thanks to central government run administrations and large subsidies, buoys and lights are quite well maintained and generally conform to what you’ll find on charts and official publications.

Bearings, courses and variation
Even if your steering compass has no significant deviation, the Antillean area has a variation of around +14°23 (2006), a figure that you subtract from a magnetic bearing or course to get the TRUE bearing or course and vice versa:
Example
True course/bearing 310° = Magnetic course/bearing 324°
Magnetic course/bearing 104° = True course/bearing 090°

In the book and in this website, in order to avoid any confusion (see chapter on cartography in the book) only TRUE courses and bearings are given. 

 

 

 

 

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