Coastal pilotage

Running fix

Two bearings on one charted object, advanced by the boat's run between sights, give a fix without GPS.

This is a coastal/short-range pilotage tool using plane-sailing approximations; it is appropriate for fixing position near a charted object, not for ocean passages.

Charted object

Latitude

Longitude

Bearings & run

First bearing to object (°T)

Second bearing to object (°T)

Course between sights (°T)

Speed (kn)

Time between sights (hours)

Saved waypoints

No saved waypoints yet — save the charted object above, or bring one over from the distance & bearing tool.

Fix position

Latitude—

Longitude—

Distance off at 2nd bearing—

Distance off at 1st bearing—

Distance run—

Change of bearing—

This is the classic running fix with no current: the run between sights is your course and speed through the water. Any set and drift between the two sights moves the true position away from the computed fix. Aim for at least 30° of change in bearing between sights.