Actual Passage Charts
From Seattle down to Mexico, we used "real" NOAA and
other charts produced by the government. For $650 we also
purchased several hundred photocopied charts, covering
virtually every anchorage from Los Angeles to India. We
also wanted charts to plot our progress on passages. I
decided to write a simple program that would print out 8
1/2" X 11" paper with grid lines.
Before each passage I would label the latitude and
longitude on the grid, and tape together as many pages as
it took. All land and other navigational features were
then penciled in. Each day, at 0430 zulu we would check in
to the the Pacific Maritime Net and report our position,
and other information. We also marked that 0430Z position
on the grid. I would often track the position of other
nearby boats to follow their progress.
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