Fact and fiction

The winter months are a great time for plotting voyages. When I did the Day Skipper and Yachtmaster courses, I really enjoyed the homework. I’d clear the kitchen table, spread out my charts, dividers, slide rule and tide tables, sharpen my pencil, and settle happily into questions beginning ‘You are a yacht leaving Falmouth for Cherbourg on 22nd July…’

I haven’t had that much opportunity to plot voyages for myself. I’m mostly just out in the voe,’s simple Furuno – and it all worked!