Local Notice to Nauticals
February 2023
Navigating Your Way to Fun and Fortitude
February is one of those mid-winter months that some find fun and fortitude. Fun in the adventures cold weather brings or strength in your convictions to make it through the month. Lest I get too heavy with this discussion, let’s consider the fun side of things.
Different from land navigation and relying on our GPS (essentially jumping in your car, entering your destination in your driveway or enroute), nautical navigation requires more planning. This course covers destination sailing as traveling in 3-dimensions - water, weather and way (current). Without the conviction to plan and hourly updates along your route, you’re left wondering where you are and where you’re going. In a car you can pull over on the side of the road and wait for help, but on a boat, a challenging situation requires more effort and action thorough preparation.
New Courses
ASA105 - Coastal Navigation
Coastal navigation teaches critical paper and pencil navigation skills to supplement your electronic systems. In addition to on-water skills, it also offers the opportunity to plan your cruise, with the excitement of charts and cruising guides, handy to plan your adventure, including safety valves, in case of enroute challenges. The course also covers essential skills when dealing with tides and currents, common in most chartering destinations.
This course is offered in February, April and May.
Navigation Fundamentals
This abbreviated course will give you “just the facts”. It builds on elemental and more advanced skills to supplement prior knowledge from your ASA103 and ASA104 certifications. This is the perfect course when sailing along coastal Great Lakes, along with critical skills when the fog rolls in and obscures your route.
This course is offered in February, April and May.
ASA117 - Basic Celestial Navigation
This course returns as many students have their sights on sailing well beyond the shore where there are no landmarks from which to derive a position. Using the sun, moon and stars, this course will teach you the ways ancient mariners crossed oceans with the aid of a sextant and copious notes. Even if you’re not planning an ocean crossing the skills and concepts you’ll learn will make you a more observant, rational sailor.
There is a Celestial Fundamentals course that is a companion course without the additional rigor of the ASA117 course. These courses are offered near the Spring Equinox in March.
ASA119 - Marine Weather
Keep a lookout for the skills-based course. Final plans for this new format and approval for ASA Certification, this comprehensive series of courses are perfect for those venturing distances from shore.
Send us a note if you have any questions about the first course offerings!
Looking ahead for May (it’s never to early to think of being back on the water), consider our Docking Skills and Sailing Refresher courses in May. They’re a great way to tune-up your skills for the coming season… or to just get out and enjoy yourself on the water!
Looking for thing Knot to Do?
Head to our YouTube page and watch a few Knot Videos to refresh or learn a few new knots.
Our “Wooden Ladies” are excited to be part of the fleet this year.
Mahogany is tucked in, ready for her timbers to be soaked and swelled for the start of the season in March. If you are interested in watching or helping with the process, please let me know through the crew form. This is an interesting process, done the age over, when wooden craft predominated the harbors and our waters.
White Oak Cedar is continuing to gain shape. Her hull is nearly ready for the newly arrived white cedar from Vermont forests. With the arrival of her sails and trailer to support her build and launch, we are in an exciting chapter and resurgence in the wooden boat building. Follow along on our blog, as we share photos and progress of her build. Plan to join us in Wilmette in May when she’ll be baptized in the lake and added, with her big sister Mahogany, to our fleet, helping you BE-Nautical, sustainably.
New Craft
Crew Opportunities
Interested in offering your skills as crew for racing, delivery or commissioning? Fill out the form and we’ll include you in crew opportunities at no or low costs. We’ll ask a few questions about your experience along with options for crew.
New Opportunities
Warm Water Destinations
Considering cruising in warmer waters this winter or spring? Contact Captain Brian and he’ll align you with one of our crew members located in the Caribbean to help teach or aide in your adventure. They are also available to sail beyond the Caribbean if you’re interested in extending your horizons.
BE-Nautical — Finding ways to engage, enthuse and expand your opportunities on the water.
From the entire crew at BE-Nautical, happy new season and welcome aboard!
Brian
Captain Brian Earl
BE-Nautical
847-917-7245