It is REQUIRED that you complete an "On-Line" registration or contact Assistant Training Officer Kit Griffin at least one week before the course starts if you plan to attend this course. Your advance registration is required so that we may be sure to have sufficient materials available for everyone in the class. The balance of the registration process will be completed at 18:30 (6:30 PM) on the first night of class.

The Advanced Courses listed at the right are only available to CPS members, and must be taken in the order listed. Anyone who has previously passed the CPS Boating Course but is not currently a member of CPS may join Vancouver Squadron when registering for an advanced course.

Advanced Piloting takes the boater out of the realm of conning and visual piloting to coastal cruising out of sight of land, navigating in tidal waters, dealing with current, standing clear of danger, and determining position by visual observation, or with the use of modern electronic equipment. It stresses competance and accuracy in chartwork to standards recognized by the marine industry.

While the advent of electronic equipment has made piloting easier, there is still an urgent need to use the traditional tools of plotting to check position, calibrate or check all piloting or navigtional equipment, and to be able to naigate a vessel in case of equipment or power failure.

This course will introduce a new term, "waypoint navigation." Waypoints are pre-selected geographical locations which the pilot or navigator uses to plan a safe route for a cruise. They may be visible landmarks, aids to navigation, or any pre-selected geographical location identified by latitude and longitude coordinates.

The Advanced Piloting Course expands on elements of Boating and Piloting. It demands greater accuracy in positioning and plotting exercises, strict adherence to standardized labelling, and ability to use and interpolate tables of various kinds. It is a challenge, but one the student will find is worthwhile and enjoyable.

Course Outline

1. Charts
   • Care of Charts
   • Latitude and Longitude
   • Chart Projections
   • Chart Scale
   • Use of Charts
   • IALA Maritime Buoyage System
2. Compass
   • The Magnetic Compass
   • Compass Error - Deviation and Variation
   • The Deviation Table
   • Determining Deviation and Constructing a Deviation Table
   • Interpolation in the Deviation Table
   • The Pelorus and its Use
   • Gyro and Fluxgate Compasses
3. Courses, Bearings and Positions
   • Plotting and Labelling
   • The Speed Curve
   • Lines of Position
   • Circles of Position
   • Fixes
     • Fixes by Ranges and Bearings
     • Fixes by Circles of Position
   • Distance to the Horizon
   • Standing Clear of Danger
     • Pre-computed Danger Angles
     • Danger Bearings
     • Ranges
     • Sectors
     • Lines of Soundings
     • Collision Bearings
4. Electronic Navigation
   • Types of Equipment
   • Applications
   • Waypoint Navigation
   • GPS Navigation
     • NavStar/GPS System
     • System Operation
     • Errors
     • Differential GPS (DGPS)
     • Computer Output and Display
     • Advantages and Disadvantages of GPS
   • LORAN-C
     • System Description
     • Chain Selection
     • LORAN Recievers
     • Signal Range
     • Accuracy and Corrections
     • Computer Outputs
     • Interfacing with Other Navigational Devices
     • Installation
     • Advantages and Disadvantages of LORAN-C
   • RADAR
     • Range Markers
     • Plotting RADAR Information
     • AdvantagesRADAR
     • Limitations of RADAR
     • Passive RADAR Reflectors
     • Licence and Servicing
     • RADAR Interpretation
   • Depth Sounders
   • Standard Broadcast Receivers
   • Other Electronic Equipment
     • Maritime Radiotelephone (VHF)
     • Cellular Telephones
     • Other Applications
   • Overboard
   • Back to Basics
5. Effects of Current and Leeway
   • Vectors
   • Current Effects
     • To Determine and Estimated Position
     • To Determine Course to Steer and Speed of Advance
     • To Determine Current Set and Drift from a Fix
   • Leeway
   • Plotting Relative Bearings
   • Estimated Positions
   • Current Determination
6. Running Fixes
   • Doubling the Angle on the Bow
   • Bow and Beam Bearings
   • Predicting Distance Off
   • Advancing a Line of Position
   • Advancing a Circle of Position
   • Lines of Position: Small Boats
   • Plotting a Running Fix with Known Current
   • Current Effects on Positioning Techniques
7. Tides and Tidal Currents
   • Causes of Tides
   • Tidal Datum, Measurement and Tides
   • Tide Tables
     • Canadian Tide Tables
     • Use of the Tide Tables
     • U.S. Tide Tables
   • Tidal Currents
     • Canadian Current Tables
     • Current Solutions
     • Duration of Slack
     • Velocity of Current at any Time
     • U.S. Current Tables
8. Cruise of the "M.V. Aypee"
   • A chartwork exercise based on topics covered in the course