Navigation Practical Exercise

Sailing to a Waypoint

The Question: Can you predict how to sail the most efficient route to a waypoint?

The Exercise:

Here is a simple exercise to practice sailing (navigating) to a waypoint. The exercise is for you to plan to sailing upwind and to a waypoint with 2 tacks.

1. Download and print out this PDF blank worksheet.

2. Start at F5 and sail to the waypoint N46.

3. Your Assumptions:

  • Your boat speed through the water is 6 knots
  • There is a leeway of 10 degrees
  • You head off on a port tack
  • Your boat can head closest to wind at 45 deg TWA
  • You make your first tack at the 10m water depth mark just off Oval Island
  • You start at 10:00am
  • There is no current
  • Do 2 tacks only

4. Plot the most efficient track and find the intermediate times of each tack. Find your arrival time at waypoint N46.

HINT: DON’T FORGET ABOUT LEEWAY

Close Hauled sailboat

The Answer:

Here is the answer plot ›
NO CHEATING. Plot it first – you won’t learn if you don’t do the plot yourself first – seriously!

Coastal Navigation Course

This and many other navigation teachings and training exercises are in the online NauticEd Coastal Navigation course. Gain access today plus 2 other free online sailing courses. NauticEd International Sailing Education is a United States Coast Guard recognized sailing education body. Over 20 sailing courses and practical training instructors worldwide. With NauticEd you can earn a sailing license (the SLC) which is valid for sailing worldwide including the Mediterranean.

Sailing License in the Mediterranean
Grant Headifen
Grant Headifen
My vision for NauticEd is to provide the highest quality sailing and boating education available - and deliver competence wherever sailors live and go.
Grant Headifen
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Last updated on April 6th, 2022
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