Try Transit Sailing to Make Steering Easier
Sail through a pass, up or down a channel, through an inlet or enter a cove and you'll want fast, easy, accurate steering methods to keep your keel in deep water. Watch this sailing skills video to discover one sailing tip that can make this challenge a whole lot easier!
In today's video you will learn how to:
Captain John's Sailing Navigation Tip:
It might not seem intuitive to steer in the direction of the closer object when your transit objects appear to split apart. As the video explains, this will be your first sign to indicate that the wind (leeway) or current (set) have pushed you off track. Always steer in the direction of the closer object. Once the objects line up again, point higher upwind or up current to maintain the transit.
Conduct this simple experiment. Hold both index fingers up and in line in front of your face. Hold your hands steady. Move your head to the right. What happens to the closer index finger? It appears to split to the left. Which way do you need to move your head to "regain" alignment between your index fingers? You must move your head to the left (again, keep your hands steady as you do this). So, you move toward the direction of the closer object.
You can do this same experiment on the other side of the alignment too. Hold your hands steady. Move your head to the left. What happens to the closer index finger? It appears to split to the right. Which way do you need to move your head to "regain" alignment between your index fingers? You must move your head to the right.