Extended Coastal and Offshore Passage Planning

Multi-day passages and longer offshore legs require additional planning beyond a standard day sail. Distance planning means breaking the passage into legs with intermediate waypoints, calculating ETAs allowing for tidal streams and likely conditions, and identifying bolt holes along the entire route — not just the first few hours.

Provisioning must account for the full duration plus contingency days. Carry sufficient water, food (including easy-to-prepare hot meals for rough weather), fuel, and any medications the crew require. Fuel management follows the rule of thirds: one third for the outward passage, one third for return (or the next leg), and one third in reserve. For a one-way passage, carry at least one third more fuel than the calculated requirement to allow for head winds, adverse current, or diversions.

A communications schedule should be agreed before departure. File a passage plan or CG66 form with a responsible shore contact — a trusted person ashore who holds details of the vessel, crew, passage plan, and expected check-in times. The CG66 (voluntary safety identification scheme) can also be filed with HM Coastguard. The shore contact must know what to do if you fail to report — typically, try to raise you by phone, then call the Coastguard.

Reporting in should happen at agreed intervals — typically daily or at key waypoints. If you will be out of mobile phone range, use VHF, SSB radio, or satellite communications. On longer passages, schedule radio checks and keep the shore contact updated with your position and ETA. Update the shore contact whenever your plans change significantly — if you divert, delay departure, or experience problems.