Australian east coast passage planner - don't leave home without it
by Des Ryan on 7 Feb 2010
Robs Passage Planner charts required and available cruising guides SW
Part of the challenge for the recreational cruising sailor is the amount of necessary research to undertake a passage, whether it be a day sail or a six month sojourn. Making it so easy, the new version of 'Rob's Passage Planner' is now out for the east coast of Australia, with many upgrades over the previous version.
The Passage Planner is the brain child of long time cruising and racing sailor Rob Starkey, Pittwater based sailor and member of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Rob created the first version several years ago, and has been busy refining it and upgrading it, with the resultant Version 4.0 that is out now.
How far can I sail today? How long should my next passage be? What are the alternatives? Am I sure I have all the right charts? If you are planning a passage anywhere on the east coast of Australia - sailing anywhere between Cairns in North Queensland and Twofold Bay in Southern New South Wales - these and many other questions are answered in the Passage Planner.
It's very complete, covering time/distance charts, chart and pilot references, VMR details, even a ready reckoner to work out whether to tack going downwind.
You'll also find an overview of the minimum safety requirements as legislated by state Governments and as required by Yachting Austrlaia for YA events.
...and that's not all. There are useful links and schedules for weather forecasts, and strip charts for the long coastline, each covering approximately 180 nautical miles showing the relative geographical position of ports and anchorages, 'normal' passage scenarios with distances. Each strip chart (see sample diagram) identifies minimum chart requirement, weather forecast zones, VMR locations and contacts.
It's an excellent planning tool to have on board, taking the headaches out of the east coast of Australia, and it's a free 16 page document that all sailors can print and keep on board.
Click for the Skipr Notebook http://skipr.net/notebook/east-coast/robs-passage-planner.html!here to access the download
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