Question 1

What documents and publications should a Coastal Skipper carry for an English Channel crossing?

Accepted Answer

Admiralty charts (2675, 2045 English Channel) or equivalent; almanac (current year — Reed's or Cruising Almanac); pilot book (Channel Pilot or RYA Channel Crossing Guide); weather forecast printout; vessel documents (SSR/Part 1, insurance, radio licence); passports/ID for all crew (post-Brexit); MMSI and EPIRB registration; CG66 or passage plan left ashore; tide tables; VHF DSC licences for crew CHANNEL CROSSING DOCUMENTATION: post-Brexit, UK citizens require a valid passport to enter EU/French waters — not a national ID card or driving licence. The radio licence must be aboard the vessel (not a copy). Insurance documentation should be carried (Port Gris-Nez and Cherbourg authorities occasionally ask). The almanac must be current year — tidal data, light lists, and port entry information changes annually. A chartplotter with downloaded charts does not replace paper charts for an offshore passage — electronics fail.

Question 2

The standard port (Portsmouth HW) is 1800 hrs, height 4.8m. The secondary port time difference is -0020 and height difference is -0.4m. What is the HW time and height at the secondary port?

Accepted Answer

HW time: 1800 - 0020 = 1740 hrs. HW height: 4.8 - 0.4 = 4.4m. Note: differences are applied directly when given as simple offsets. When height ratios are given (not simple differences) use: (secondary HW - secondary LW) / (standard HW - standard LW) × tidal range Secondary port calculation: apply the time difference algebraically (negative = subtract; positive = add). Height differences work the same way. This example is the simple case where differences are given as absolute values. The more complex case (in reed's and almanac) uses ratio calculations interpolating between MHWS/MHWN differences. Always read the secondary port data carefully — some almanacs give "differences" that require interpolation between spring and neap values based on the standard port's predicted height. This is a core Coastal Skipper exam topic.

Question 3

A skipper is relying entirely on a chartplotter with AIS for passage navigation. What are the key limitations that require maintaining traditional skills?

Accepted Answer

Chartplotter limitations: 1) Chart data may be out of date (new wrecks, changed cardinal marks, silting); 2) GPS antenna failure = no position; 3) Power failure = no display; 4) Small-vessel AIS (Class B) is not fitted to all vessels — canoes, kayaks, small fishing boats, naval vessels are all invisible; 5) Chartplotters can show the vessel in a precise but wrong position (datum error, signal multipath). Maintain paper chart, compass, and watch-keeping skills ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION DEPENDENCE: the RYA and MCA explicitly teach that electronic navigation must be backed up by traditional skills. The most dangerous failure mode is overconfidence — the GPS shows a precise position, but the precision may be wrong (multipath, datum error, chart error). AIS Class B is not compulsory for vessels under 300gt recreational — the majority of vessels the Coastal Skipper will encounter (ferries, fishing vessels, RIBs) may have no AIS. A vessel 200m off track in a channel with GPS can be in danger. Paper chart and compass DR must remain a practised skill.