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Step 1
Acquire all the charts for the region in which you will be sailing. Without nautical charts for the area, you will have no idea of the potential hazards or of water depth. When sailing in any area you must be mindful of tides and depth of the sea floor. Also keep in mind underwater geography and hazards.
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Step 2
Choose your destination and a rough route to reach it. In open water, there is little choice but to go from point A to point B in a direct line. However, in coastal and inland waters, you may take one of many routes to reach a particular goal. You should investigate numerous routes and be mindful of both your skill as a sailor and the dimensions of your vessel.
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Step 3
Decide on the time of day that you expect to be at any particular point along the route. Compare this timetable with the tide charts to see if the tide will play into your voyage. Often, a shift in the tide will make one passage impossible or cut you off from making a return trip until the tide shifts once more.
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Step 4
Chart the direction that you must sail to reach your destination. Note any coastal landmarks along the way so that you can steer by landmarks rather than by the compass most of the way. These landmarks will also help you identify where underwater dangers or depth changes occur. With the wind pushing on the sails, the boat will slip in the water and miss the destination even though you are steering by a defined compass reading. This is why using landmarks to steer by is so helpful.
