Navigation, Sea State And Weather - A Paddler's Manual. Freedom of the Seas Volume 1. 2020. Second Edition (Paperback).

Written by Michael Pardy, JF Marleau, Andrew Woodford and Piper Harris. Published by SKILS.

Paddlers journey along the boundaries between sea, air and land. Volume 1 of the Freedom of the Seas series contains an important slice of paddling knowledge regarding these boundaries and information about navigation, sea state and weather. We have combined these three knowledge sets into one book for a simple reason: on the water, they are inseparable.

Freedom of the Seas, Volume 1 is intended as a reference for kayakers and canoeists touring large bodies of water. This book is written from a Canadian perspective. The examples in this book are drawn from across Canada, but the lessons can be applied anywhere in the world.Ten years after the release of the first edition, we are excited to release this revised andexpanded second edition with up-to-date information, new drawings and graphics, and tips to improve your skills and knowledge. We are grateful for some fantastic feedback from SKILS staff and students on how to improve the content and make it easier to understand some complex theoretical concepts.

What you'll learn in the navigation section:

1) How to read and use a marine chart. The lessons will focus on:

• The difference between charts and maps
• Topographic map symbols
• Chart projection
• Latitude and longitude
• Scale
• Measuring distances
• Reporting your position
• Marine chart symbols
  
• Depths and depth contours
• Heights and height contours
• The intertidal zone
• Hazard symbols
• Special areas and boundaries
• Aids to navigation

2) Practical navigation techniques. The lesson will focus on:

• Basic piloting
• Effect of wind on speed
• Checkpoints
• Handrailing
• Backstops
• Aiming off
• Range and line of position
• The narrative of navigation
• The circles of possibility

3) Advanced practical navigation techniques. The lessons will focus on:

• Vectors and calculating the effects of currents on speed
• Rule of 60 and the small angle rule
• Tools for judging distance

4) Collision Regulations. The lessons will focus on:

• The 3R’s for avoiding a collision
• Navigation Lights
• Canadian collision regulations
• Vessel Traffic Services
• Ships whistles and horns

5) Navigating with a compass and electronic navigation. The lessons will focus on:

• The marine compass
• The orienteering compass
• True, grid and magnetic north
• The variation, declination and deviation
• The magnetic dip
• Bearing, heading and course
• How to use the compass
• Bisects and triangulation
• Dead reckoning with a compass
• Navigation tips to be efficient
• Tactics in low visibility, especially in fog or at night
• Electronic Navigation

What you'll learn in the sea state section:

1) A better understanding of the how swell and waves are formed and how they affect watercraft. The lessons will focus on:

• The Beaufort Scale
• Rebounding waves
• Refracting and diffracting waves
• Boomers
• Clapotis
• Storm Surge
• Seiche Waves
• Tsunami
• Surf

2) A better understanding of how to paddle in the ice. More specifically, you will learn the different types of iceThe hazards caused by icebergs and glaciers

3) A better understanding of tides and currents, their origin and how they impact watercraft. The lessons will focus on:

• Variables affecting the tides
• Types of currents
• Surface features of a current
• Paddling in currents
• Where to get information about tides and currents
• Calculating tide heights and times
• Rule of 12ths
• Rule of 50/90
• Doug and Mike’s most excellent rule of 25%
• Calculating current speed, direction and times with maximum rates
• Calculating current speed, direction and times with percentage rates
• Calculating current speed, direction and times with interpolation
• Rule of Thirds
• Slack Water Rule

What you'll learn in the weather section:

1) A better understanding of the how weather systems are formed and affect you. The lessons will focus on:

• Barometric pressure
• Clouds
• Cells
• Jet streams
• Air masses
• High pressure systems
• Low pressure systems
• Frontal systems
• Precipitation
• Wind speed
• Wind direction
• Coriolis effect
• Buys ballot and the cross winds rule
• Gap winds
• Corner winds
• Lee effects
• Fog
• Sea breezes and land breezes
• Katabatic and anabatic winds
• Waterspouts
• Thunderstorms and lightning
• Regional patterns across Canada

2) You’ll develop skills and knowledge how to record and interpret marine weather. The lessons will focus on:

• Developing competency in recording the marine weather forecast on the VHF radio
• Understanding the different type of information broadcasted
• Learning essential tips
• Developing a shorthand
• Reading synoptic weather charts
• Great resources for interpreting weather
• How to make predictions and decisions

For the past 18 years, the authors have developed training manuals for SKILS programs. These manuals are currently being expanded and polished and will become books as part of the Freedom of the Seas series. Click below for Volume 2 of this series:
Sea Kayak Touring and Leadership Manual. Freedom of the Seas Volume 2. 2024.