Using a chart ´spiders web´ to quickly plot your position and bearing underway.

A spiders web is simply a pre-drawn array of bearing lines drawn on a paper chart from a common point, augmented by useful distance rings centred around the same point (Figure 1).

Using a chart spiders web to quickly plot your position and bearing underway

Figure 2 shows my well-worn chart for the approach to my home port of Christchurch Harbour. All I do is set the Christchurch Harbour entrance buoy as a waypoint on my Chart Plotter, and read off the bearing and distance to run from the electronics as I approach home, and then plot the position on my paper chart.

Using a chart spiders web to quickly plot your position and bearing underway

Many small vessels coming home from the west take the inner channel over Christchurch Ledge. There is a series of rocks just off the shore on the eastern side of Hengistbury Head, however, that has sheared off many a propeller leg. So you can see I have cross-hatched in the danger area on the chart to remind me not to add my props to the tally.

Season 2023/24

Season 2023/24
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Dorset BH23 2BN

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