RYA Passage Planning (Practical)

Why every passage needs a plan, what SOLAS V Regulation 34 asks of a small-craft skipper, and the shape of a good plan.

Where the information for a plan comes from, and how to judge it: charts, almanacs, pilot books, VisitMyHarbour, Navily and notices to mariners.

Choosing safe waypoints, measuring legs and building a route in the planner and the Chart Room plotter.

Using heights, streams and tidal gates to time departure and arrival, with the planner tide panel and EasyTide.

Reading forecasts for a plan, choosing a departure window and comparing the live forecast with training weather.

Making a pilotage plan for each entrance using the Chart Room harbour folio: transits, clearing bearings and a written sequence.

Building plan B into every passage: refuges, shipping lanes, points of no return and what to do when things go wrong.

Executing and monitoring the plan at sea, using the Passages & Waypoints page as a follow-along log.

Moving routes between the planner, chartplotters and apps such as Savvy Navvy with GPX, and checking them after transfer.

Putting it all together: build a full plan, print or share it with a shore contact or DPA, and defend it to the examiner.