Pro navigator Mike Broughton explains why paper charts are still irreplaceable 0shares
Smartphone applications have permeated yachting in ever increasing ways and yet paper charts still persist. Mike Broughton explains why
Libby Greenhalgh double checks the navigation the old fashioned way on board Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag. Photo: Konrad Frost / Volvo Ocean Race
We now have sailing apps that help with navigation planning, that explain rules, apps that track you and apps that track all other vessels with AIS. Weather forecasting apps continue to improve at pace and we can now run an application that can combine six different sophisticated weather models on a device in the palm of your hand. Apps can import satellite pictures, rain radar data and even wind information from the observation station close to your windward mark.