It is obvious that a schedule, such as outlined above, cannot be adhered to in all kinds of weather or under all conditions. It is merely an outline of what might properly be included in a 24 hour day, the weather conditions of which will lend themselves at any time to taking the observations mentioned. The weather of each succeeding day may force you to adopt a different routine. Nevertheless, the closer you can keep to the above schedule the more exact will your various positions be.
(c) On Entering Pilot Waters
See that all charts of the locality you intend to enter are corrected to date.
Study these charts carefully, making notes, in detail, of the aids to navigation that you intend to pick up.
In noting lights give their distinctive appearance, range of visibility, approximate time of sighting them, and any other information that you think you may need. If you have this information with you when on the bridge it will save much time and trouble that you would otherwise have to spend, at possibly a critical time, in the chart room.
See that log lines, sounding machine, etc., are in order for instant use.
Remember that in entering pilot waters the safest landmarks are permanent ones. Buoys, cans, etc., may drag from their positions or be lost altogether. This can also happen to lightships.
Become familiar with soundings, rise and fall of the tides, and the like, in the neighborhood in which you intend to anchor. If possible choose an anchorage that will enable you to get bearings from two or three fixed points on shore. As soon as possible after anchoring secure your bearings by pelorus and have them checked up by the quartermaster at regular intervals. This will determine how much, if any, dragging has taken place.
Lastly, always remember that no amount of advice can make up for your own carelessness. Hold yourself ready for any emergency, keep cool, keep patient and keep pleasant. Common sense is the best antidote in the world for strange situations. If you have that, and the knowledge you should have secured from these lectures, you cannot go far wrong.
While the day's work which follows does not include every sight in regular sequence as given in the above discussion, it will give a fair idea of the navigator's work during a day's run. Put it in your notebook. (Note to Instructor:—Spend the rest of the period in explaining carefully each step of this example.)