Chart Navigation: Staying Found

This 5.5-hour clinic covers a host of visual and compass-based techniques for confirming your location on a chart and verifying your surroundings. We’ll cover lines of position, backstops, “fixing” your position using a compass, triangulation and more. The clinic includes land-based and water-based components, with lots of hands-on practice to lock in skills. The session takes place on Gabriola Island. Handheld compasses are provided if needed.

Dates & Times

Saturday April 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Gabriola Island.

Location

Flat Top Islands. The Flat Tops is a dense, compact group of islands, easily accessible from Gabriola Island and offering an excellent classroom for visual and compass-based navigation work.
Launch Point: Silva Bay Marina, Gabriola Island. Note that there may be a parking fee at this location.
Travel to/from Gabriola Island involves a 25-minute ride on BC Ferries, leaving from the Nanaimo Harbour Terminal in downtown Nanaimo. This ferry is first-come, first-served, and the fare covers return travel to Nanaimo.

Class Size & Fees

$180 per person ($162 for active paddling club members)
2 students minimum; 4 students maximum.

Prerequisites:

Previous experience using and reading a marine chart.
Comfortable paddling for a few hours at a time without a break.
Able to efficiently maneuver your kayak in any direction.
Previous basic experience with a handheld orienteering compass is helpful, but not required.

Required Equipment:

Your own sea kayak with full spray skirt, paddle and Transport-Canada required safety gear (PFD with whistle attached, throw bag, bilge pump).
Weather-appropriate wetsuit OR drysuit with appropriate layers underneath.
Sun/wind/rain protection for the day.
Extra set of warm dry clothes in a drybag.
Lunch, snacks and water for the session, including a warm drink in a Thermos. (We will stop for a lunch break mid-clinic.)
Optional: Marine chart that covers the Flat Top Islands area off Gabriola Island. (We will provide chart excerpts for use during the course.)
Optional: Your own handheld and/or deck-mounted compass. (We will provide handheld compasses for use during the course.)

Registration

To register, please e-mail us at crosscurrents@outlook.com or complete the form below and we will contact you to complete your registration.

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Register for Chart Navigation: Staying Found

First and Last Name

Email Address

Phone Number

Course Date

If you are you a member of a local paddling club, please provide the club name:

Please describe your paddling/navigation experience to date, as well as your goals for this course:

Please confirm that you have read and agree to the contents of Crosscurrents Kayak’s waiver, linked below, and that you will complete and sign a copy of this waiver prior to the course.

Waiver (opens in new window)

Please confirm that you have read and agree to Crosscurrents Kayak’s Course Policies, including the Cancellation Policy, linked below.

Course Policies (opens in new window)

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After you submit this form, we will be in touch by email to complete your registration.