Take the moon as well!

Posted By: Mike Laine CM26 San Felipe
Date: 2/26/06 6:48p.m.

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In Response To: X-tra Way Point (link) (pic) (Mike Laine CM26 San Felipe)

Interesting comment you made about charts! Be sure to take a moon along as well. If you punch in co-ord's on a GPS and head for a small rock jutting out of the sea like a large hotel, chances are you will smack into it before you hit your way point if you approach from a different direction. I sail out from San Felipe many evenings as it is a beautiful starlit cruise. The last trip my co-ords were wrong for the Island and came up short by 4 miles. I had a chart and checked to find the error. There was no moon ...... I mean no moon, and it was pitch black with shrimp boats netting miles off in the distance and billions of stars on a black blanket. I shut everything down and listened for seals. There they were and once again I was slowly under way tapping my white cane off the bow. My 50 million candle power caught hold of the rock and I eased to my fishing hole, anchored, and had a good night's sleep. Still, it can be a spooky experience for any Captain.