Module 10 - Chartwork

What Is Chartwork?

Chartwork is the practical skill of plotting courses, shaping a passage, fixing positions, and solving navigational problems on a nautical chart. At Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore level the problems are longer and more integrated — chartwork papers often combine CTS, tidal stream, EP/DR, and pilotage decisions across multi-hour passages.

You need to be comfortable with plotting tools (parallel rulers, dividers, or a Breton plotter), reading chart symbols, measuring distances and bearings, and working with tidal data on the chart. Clean, clearly labelled plots are essential — examiners award method marks and need to follow your working.

Key points

  • Chartwork = practical navigation using charts and instruments
  • Forms the basis of the chartwork exam paper
  • Requires parallel rulers or plotters, dividers, pencil, and rubber
  • At CS/YM level, problems are multi-step and integrated

Continue studying Chartwork

This topic is part of Module 10. Open the full module for lessons, quizzes, flashcards, and revision tools.