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Lesson 1 — INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONIC CHART SYSTEMS (ECS) Raster vs. vector charts • RNC vs. ENC • ECS vs. ECDIS • Echart sources • Nav program qtVlm • Scale bands • Objects and attributes • Cursor picking Lesson 2 — ENC BASICS Display modes • Scales • Soundings, depth areas, and contours • Buoys • Land objects • Chart text • Magnetic variation Lesson 3 — TIDES, LIGHTS, and HAZARDS Chart datums • Mean high water • Digital tides • Lights • Rocks • Drying heights • Isolated danger symbol • Bridge clearance Lesson 4 — CHART READING SUMMARY and RESCHEMING Summarize use of ENC objects and attributes • ECDIS Chart No. 1 • Scale bands • Chart scales • NOAA rescheming program • Inland ENCs • Reminder about starpath.com/getcharts Lesson 5 — TIDAL CURRENTS and PILOTING Reading harmonic tidal currents from the chart program • Adapting to NOAA's new policy of not printing tide nor current books any longer • Checking the GPS with traditional piloting measurements • Solving piloting problems with ECS plotting • Solving wind and current vector problems with ECS plotting Lesson 6 — WAYPOINTS and ROUTES Choosing and naming waypoints • Setting up routes • Route plans • Exporting routes • Backing up routes in mobile devices • Great circle vs rhumb line routes • Chart accuracy • Checking a route for safety with the Pathway Checker. Lesson 7 — USE OF SIMULATOR and PRACTICE WITH LIVE GPS Connecting live USB, Bluetooth, or wifi GPS • NMEA connections • Use of simulation • Instrument and navigation data displays • Configuring your vessel icon • Tracking options • Vessel icon range rings • Course-up display Lesson 8 — ECHART NAVIGATION UNDERWAY Following a route • Monitoring heading line and COG predictor • Checking current predictions with actual measurements • Simulated sailboat navigation using polar diagrams • Sailboat DR (grib reckoning) • Cross Track error • Use of Alarms • WAAS for more accurate GPS Lesson 9 — AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AIS) Receiver vs. transceiver • Connecting to a Nav program • Class A vs. Class B • Live signals vs. internet signals • COG predictors • Closest point of approach (CPA) • Automatic vs. manual risk of collision evaluation • On screen display options • Practice interacting with real AIS targets from a simulated vessel Lesson 10 — NOAA CUSTOM CHARTS (NCC) and WEATHER OVERLAYS (GRIBS) Making and printing NOAA Custom Charts (the paper charts of the future) • Numerical weather forecasts in GRIB format • GRIB display options • Global vs Regional models • Use of HRRR model • Ocean current forecasts • Sea State forecasting • Squall forecasting with GFS simulated radar reflectivity Lesson 11 — INTRODUCTION TO OPTIMUM SAILBOAT ROUTING (optional lesson)Review polar diagrams and model wind forecasts • Route by best VMG • Route by best VMC • Route by minimum isochrone computation • Limit routes by wind speed, wave height, TWA • Use of reverse isochrones • Analyze and compare computed route logs for route variations • Pitfalls of optimum weather routing • Predict time of sunrise, sunset, and moon phase underway • Lesson 11 topics are not included on the certification test.
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