Freedom of the Seas: Vol 1 - Navigation, Sea State and Weather

What You'll Learn in the Navigation Section:

How to read and use a marine chart. The lessons will focus on:

* The difference between charts and maps
* Topographic map symbols
* Chart projection
* Latitude and longitude
* Scale
* Measuring distances
* Reporting your position
* Marine chart symbols
* Depths and depth contours
* Heights and height contours
* The intertidal zone
* Hazard symbols
* Special areas and boundaries
* Aids to navigation

Practical navigation techniques. The lesson will focus on:

* Basic piloting
* Effect of wind on speed
* Checkpoints
* Handrailing
* Backstops
* Aiming off
* Range and line of position
* The narrative of navigation
* The circles of possibility

Advanced practical navigation techniques. The lessons will focus on:

* Vectors and calculating the effects of currents on speed
* Rule of 60 and the small angle rule
* Tools for judging distance

Collision Regulations.

The lessons will focus on:

* The 3R’s for avoiding a collision
* Navigation Lights
* Canadian collision regulations
* Vessel Traffic Services
* Ships whistles and horns

Navigating with a compass and electronic navigation.

The lessons will focus on:

* The marine compass
* The orienteering compass
* True, grid and magnetic north
* The variation, declination and deviation
* The magnetic dip
* Bearing, heading and course
* How to use the compass
* Bisects and triangulation
* Dead reckoning with a compass
* Navigation tips to be efficient
* Tactics in low visibility, especially in fog or at night
* Electronic Navigation

What you'll learn in the sea state section:

A better understanding of the how swell and waves are formed and how they affect watercraft. The lessons will focus on:

* The Beaufort Scale
* Rebounding waves
* Refracting and diffracting waves
* Boomers
* Clapotis
* Storm Surge
* Seiche Waves
* Tsunami
* Surf

A better understanding of how to paddle in the ice. More specifically, you will learn:

* The different types of ice

*The hazards caused by icebergs and glaciers
*A better understanding of tides and currents, their origin and how they impact watercraft. The lessons will focus on:
* Variables affecting the tides
* Types of currents
* Surface features of a current
* Paddling in currents
* Where to get information about tides and currents
* Calculating tide heights and times
* Rule of 12ths
* Rule of 50/90
* Doug and Mike’s most excellent rule of 25%
* Calculating current speed, direction and times with maximum rates / percentage rates / interpolation
* Rule of Thirds
* Slack Water Rule

What you'll learn in the weather section:

A better understanding of the how weather systems are formed and affect you. The lessons will focus on
* Barometric pressure
* Clouds
* Cells
* Jet streams
* Air masses
* High pressure systems
* Low pressure systems
* Frontal systems
* Precipitation
* Wind speed
* Wind direction
* Coriolis effect
* Buys ballot and the cross winds rule
* Gap winds
* Corner winds
* Lee effects
* Fog
* Sea breezes and land breezes
* Katabatic and anabatic winds
* Waterspouts
* Thunderstorms and lightning
* Regional patterns across Canada

You’ll develop skills and knowledge how to record and interpret marine weather. The lessons will focus on:

* Developing competency in recording the marine weather forecast on the VHF radio
* Understanding the different type of information broadcasted
* Learning essential tips
* Developing a shorthand
* Reading synoptic weather charts
* Great resources for interpreting weather
* How to make predictions and decisions