Pier du Sud est capitaine de voilier, marin et instructeur de voile. Il rédige des textes sur la voile, la navigation et les voyages en mer.
Navigation avec Savvy Navvy.

Introduction to the Savvy Navvy App

This text is the fourth of five on electronic navigation applications. It covers the use of the Savvy Navvy application to perform the eight essential navigation tasks: The other texts cover the Navionics (Boating), C-MAP, OpenCPN and SEAiq applications respectively. This text assumes that the application is installed on a...

Carte S-104 combinant niveaux et courants.

Introduction to Electronic Navigation Apps

This text focuses on electronic navigation applications for small boats. These electronic applications are used to display electronic charts. For concrete examples, I wrote five introductions to different applications: Navionics (Boating), OpenCPN, C-MAP, Savvy Navvy and SEAiq. Below, I detail the elements common to navigation apps generally found on sailboats,...

Copie d'écran de l'application C-MAP.

Introduction to the C-MAP application

This is the third of five articles on the use of electronic navigation applications. It focuses on the C-MAP application. The other texts cover the use of OpenCPN, Savy Navy, Navionics and SEAiq. It focuses mainly on installations on tablets or cellular devices that are not connected to a sailboat’s...

Carte électronique de navigation (CEN).

Introduction to electronic charts

This text is intended as an introduction to electronic navigational charts (ENCs). It covers how they are designed. This knowledge helps understanding how to use them and their limitations. It is an essential reading before using our introduction to electronic navigation applications. You can also read a similar text on...

Navionics

Introduction to Navionics (Boating)

This text is the first in a series of five on electronic navigation applications. It shows you how to perform the most important navigation tasks, i.e. how to: This first text covers the Navionics (Boating) application. The other texts cover OpenCPN, Savyy Navy, C-MAP and SEAiq respectively. Prior to reading...

Contessa 32 under spinnaker

Sailboat familiarisation (part 2)

This series of texts describes how to carry out a familiarisation inspection of a sailboat. The first text described how to think about inspecting three of the nine fundamental components of a sailboat: the hull, the engine and the rigging. The second text, this one, illustrates how I familiarised myself...

Un voilier et des vacances.

Sailboat familiarization (Part 1)

You arrive in the Caribbean and finally reach the marina where you’ve hired a yacht. Once the administrative formalities have been completed, you are taken to the docks and then onto the yacht. The first few minutes are exhilarating! You chat to your friends and dream about the week ahead!...

A Fast Rescue Craft

Fixing Techniques for Fast Boats

This text explains a fixing technique that is applicable on fast boats. It makes use of paper charts when there is little to no space for chartwork. The technique is useful if the chartplotter fails, or if checking the validity of an electronic fix is required. I learned the technique...

Drapeau Australien

The RYA as a commercial entry in Australia

Good news for Royal Yachting Association (RYA) commercial certificate holders. Australia now recognizes RYA training courses for the purposes of obtaining commercial certificate in Australia. Holding a YachtMaster certificate does not automatically entitle the holder to an Australian commercial certificate (“Sailing Master Offshore NC”), but it is a prerequisite. You...

Review: backpacks from AER and Black Miles

Two years ago, I bought two travel backpacks – big enough to make a weekend suitcase, but small enough to pass the airline “carry-on” test. I bought the Travel Pack from AER and the Mile One from Black Mile. Both impressed me as well-organized, discreet-looking bags (black, no visible markings,...