WHAT WILL
YOU NEED ON CONTEST DAY?
A navigation crew on your boat to perform various duties. Typical
positions are:
Captain/owner
Helmsman
Bearing Taker
Navigator
Time Keeper
Observer
Some positions can be combined. The observer works for the
Contest Committee and will be assigned to observe on another boat. You must provide an observer in order for
your boat to run in the contest
A suitable
navigation site on your boat - this can be a formal station or a cooler top
Chart of the
contest location - latest edition, appropriate scale - usually 1:40,000
Tide and current
tables - extracts or downloads from NOS (NOAA)
Stop watches
- for timing each leg and total elapsed time 4
Wristwatch
- set to the official contest fime at the captain's meeting
Plotting tools,
pencils, erasers
A scientific
calculator - must have the trigonometric keys
Binoculars
- for identifying navigation aids and committee boat
Hand held compass
- for taking bearings to navigation aids to get LOP'S
A VHF radio
- for safety and communicating with the committee boat
Note pads,
scratch paper, masking tape
Forms - for
calculating a traverse, for tabulating data
A speed curve
for your boat - a graph of various RPM's versus knots resulting
Lunch - Sandwiches
and drinks for your crew and the observer riding your boat are an expected
courtesy as contestant boats are typically underway
at lunch time
The proper attitude - I would like to win, but its more important that we have fun"