Scribd
Upload
948 views42 pages

30 Current Sailing

The document discusses current sailing and solving current triangles. It provides examples of determining an unknown current given two positions and course/speed, determining the course and speed made good (CMG/SMG) given a known current and course/speed, and determining the course to steer and engine speed required to make a desired CMG/SMG with a known current. Key concepts covered include set, drift, course made good, and speed made good. Current triangles can be solved using charts, plotting sheets, or maneuvering boards.

Uploaded by

Daniel England
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
948 views42 pages

30 Current Sailing

The document discusses current sailing and solving current triangles. It provides examples of determining an unknown current given two positions and course/speed, determining the course and speed made good (CMG/SMG) given a known current and course/speed, and determining the course to steer and engine speed required to make a desired CMG/SMG with a known current. Key concepts covered include set, drift, course made good, and speed made good. Current triangles can be solved using charts, plotting sheets, or maneuvering boards.

Uploaded by

Daniel England
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 42

Navigation

NAU 102
Lesson 30
Current Sailing
Current
The horizontal movement of the sea
surface.

Expanded Definition
All factors that cause a ship to depart
from its intended course and DR.
Current Sailing

Factors
•Ocean Current
•Tidal Current
•Wind-driven Current
•Wind
•Seas
Current Sailing

Factors
•Compass Errors
•Steering Errors
•Engine Calibration Errors
•Speed Log Errors
•Fouled Bottom
•Unusual Trim
Current Sailing

Current

The combined effect on a vessel of all the


factors.
Current Sailing

Current Sailing
The art of selecting courses and speeds to
compensate for the effects of current in
order to arrive at your desired
destination.
Current Sailing
Important Terms
•Track (TR) – the intended direction of
travel.

Speed of Advance (SOA) – the speed


intended to be made good.

•Set – the direction towards which a


current is flowing.
Current Sailing
Important Terms
•Drift – the speed of a current.

•Course Made Good (CMG) – the resultant


direction from a point of departure to a
subsequent position.
•Speed Made Good (SMG) – speed along
the Course Made Good.
Current Triangle

Course & Speed

ift
CM

Dr
G &S
MG

t&
Se
Current Triangle
Course & Speed

i ft
CM

Dr
G&
SM

t&
G

Se
If you know any 2 sides, you can solve for
the 3rd side.
Current Triangle
If you know the Course & Speed
And the Set & Drift
You can get the CMG & SMG
Course & Speed

i ft
CM

Dr
G&

&
SM
G

t
Se
Estimated
Position
Current Triangle
If you know the Course & Speed
And the CMG & SMG
You can solve for the Set & Drift
Course & Speed

i ft
CM

Dr
G&

&
SM
G

t
Se
Current Triangle
If you know the CMG & SMG
And the Set & Drift
You can solve for the Course & Speed
Course & Speed

i ft
CM

Dr
G&

&
SM
G

t
Se
Current Triangles

Can be solved using:


Charts
Universal Plotting Sheets
Radar Plotting Sheets
Maneuvering Boards
Solving for Set & Drift
Problem Type #1 - Determining an
Unknown Current
Given two positions (fixes) and your
course
At 0919 and
yourspeed, solve
position for the
is LAT current.
37°00.0'N,
LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course 270°T
at 8.7 knots. At 1000 your position is LAT
36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W. What was the
current?
Solving for Set & Drift
At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course
270°T at 8.7 knots. At 1000 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W.
What was the current?

Step 1: Plot the 1st position.


Step 2: DR to the time of the 2nd position.

0 0
10 C – 270 0919
S – 8.7
Solving for Set & Drift
At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course
270°T at 8.7 knots. At 1000 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W.
What was the current?

Step 3: Plot the 2nd position.

0 0
10 C – 270 0919
S – 8.7

1000
Solving for Set & Drift
At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course
270°T at 8.7 knots. At 1000 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W.
What was the current?

Step 4: Complete the Triangle.

0 0
10 C – 270 0919
S – 8.7
Set & CMG/SMG
Drift 1000
Solving for Set & Drift
At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course
270°T at 8.7 knots. At 1000 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W.
What was the current?

Direction From DR to Fix = Set


0 0
10

Set =
137° T CMG/S
1000
Solving for Set & Drift
At 0919 your position is LAT 37°00.0'N, LONG 75°30.0'W. You are on course
270°T at 8.7 knots. At 1000 your position is LAT 36°59.5'N, LONG 75°37.0'W.
What was the current?

Distance DR to Fix Converted to Speed = Drift


0 0
10

Distance = 0.6 nm
CMG/S
1000
Drift = 0.6 nm X 60 min/hr = 0.9 kts
41 min
CMG/SMG
Problem Type #2
Given the Course & Speed and a known
current, determine the CMG & SMG
(Estimated Position).
You are underway on course 315°T at 10
knots. The current is 090°T at 2.3 knots.
What is the course & speed being made
good?
CMG/SMG
You are underway on course 315°T at 10 knots. The current is 090°T at 2.3
knots. What will be the course & speed being made good?

Step 1: Plot the 1st position.


(If no position given, start in the center of
compass rose or radar plotting sheet.)
Step 2: DR for one hour.
Current
You are underway on course 315°T at 10 knots. The current is 090°T at 2.3
knots. What is the course & speed being made good?
CMG/SMG
You are underway on course 315°T at 10 knots. The current is 090°T at 2.3
knots. What is the course & speed being made good?

Step 3: Draw the Set & Drift Vector from


the tip of the Course & Speed Vector
CMG/SMG
You are underway on course 315°T at 10 knots. The current is 090°T at 2.3
knots. What is the course & speed being made good?

Step 4: Complete the Triangle


CMG/SMG
You are underway on course 315°T at 10 knots. The current is 090°T at 2.3
knots. What is the course & speed being made good?

Step 4: Complete the Triangle

CMG = 329° T

SMG = 8.2 kts


Course & Speed
Problem Type #3A
Given a desired CMG & SMG and a
known current, determine the course to
steer & required engine speed.
You wish to make good a course of 015°T
and a speed of 8 knots. The current is
330°T at 3 knots. What is the course to
steer and engine speed to turn?
Current
You wish to make good a course of 015°T and a speed of 8 knots. The
current is 330°T at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and engine speed to
turn?

Step 1: Plot the first position.


(If no position is given, use the center of a
compass rose or plotting sheet.)
Step 2: Lay out the desired track (draw the
CMG/SMG vector) for 1 hour.
Current
You wish to make good a course of 015°T and a speed of 8 knots. The
current is 330°T at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and engine speed to
turn?
Current
You wish to make good a course of 015°T and a speed of 8 knots. The
current is 330°T at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and engine speed to
turn?
Draw the Set & Drift Vector from the 1st
position.
Current
You wish to make good a course of 015°T and a speed of 8 knots. The
current is 330°T at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and engine speed to
turn?
Complete the Triangle
Current
You wish to make good a course of 015°T and a speed of 8 knots. The
current is 330°T at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and engine speed to
turn?
Complete the Triangle

Required Engine
Speed = 6.2 kts
Course to
Steer = 034° T
Current
You wish to make good a course of 015°T and a speed of 8 knots. The current is
330°T at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and engine speed to turn?

Alternate Procedure – Draw the S&D


Vector Backwards from the CMG Vector
Current
You wish to make good a course of 015°T and a speed of 8 knots. The current is
330°T at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and engine speed to turn?

Complete the Triangle


Course to
Steer = 034° T

Required Engine
Speed = 6.2 kts
Current
Problem Type #3B
Given a desired CMG, a known current &
your engine speed, determine the course to
steer & speed made good.
You wish to make good a course of 315°T.
Your engine speed is 8 knots. The current
is setting due north at 3 knots. What is the
course to steer and speed made good along
the trackline?
Current
You wish to make good a course of 315°T. Your engine speed is 8 knots. The
current is setting due north at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and speed
made good along the trackline?

Draw the CMG/SMG vector an indefinite length.


Current
You wish to make good a course of 315°T. Your engine speed is 8 knots. The
current is setting due north at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and speed made
good along the trackline?

Draw the Set & Drift vector from the center.


Current
You wish to make good a course of 315°T. Your engine speed is 8 knots. The
current is setting due north at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and speed made
good along the trackline?

Open dividers to engine speed.


Current
You wish to make good a course of 315°T. Your engine speed is 8 knots. The
current is setting due north at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and speed made
good along the trackline?
Swing an arc from the S&D vector to the CMG line.
Current
You wish to make good a course of 315°T. Your engine speed is 8 knots. The
current is setting due north at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and speed made
good along the trackline?
Complete the triangle.
Current
You wish to make good a course of 315°T. Your engine speed is 8 knots. The
current is setting due north at 3 knots. What is the course to steer and speed made
good along the trackline?
Complete the triangle.

SMG = 9.1 kts

Course to Steer
= 300° T
Introduction to Navigation

Questions?

You might also like