In article ,
Rosalie B. wrote:

One time we were shooting for #1 on Onancoke, which was listed
having a bell. We fetched a #1 with no bell after 4 boisterous
hours. Where the heck WERE we?

The next hour or so was more stressful than the previous 4 over open
water because I had to depend upon my having done things right, not
my usual first assumption.

Turned out that the bell had been removed the previous week, while
we were cruising, so there's no way we could have gotten the update.

That's where computer charts would help. Because if the little boat
on the screen was next to that buoy on the screen, then you would
know you were in the right place - bell or no bell.

These days, I have the GPS's light list which serves well enough for my
work. I've stopped and plotted our exact spot a couple of times, though.
(Bloodsworth always gives me conniptions.)

BUT sometimes the computer gets splashed, the GPS won't grab a signal,
or something else gets in the way. That's when recent charts are handy.
(I agree that my example is relatively unusual, BTW)

When they renumbered the Bay's markers, I made sure to get the most
recent chart book just before we ventured out of our normal cruising
area.


--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/