Hey Gail,

Yeah, looks like I might also make it through this life without ever creating a ROUTE on my plotter, as well... I tried it once in the Bahamas, scouting ahead in my dink with a handheld into a tricky spot when the light wasn't particularly good... But by the time I got underway again with the 'mother ship', I still found it easier and more comfortable to simply eyeball my way in, anyway... I generally do leave a track to follow back out in the event I might have to depart in poor light, but I honestly can't recall if I've ever really relied on one, or not...

But, what I see out there mostly, is that much of this sort of navigation is fundamentally incompatible with sailing, especially in places where the conditions encountered can be as variable as they are in Maine... This stuff is best left to the drivers of Sea Rays, and I think the reliance on this sort of 'Route-style' navigation only contributes to cruisers sailing less, and motoring more... I see it all the time, especially in the Bahamas, the obsession with staying on a track laid out on the Explorer Charts, even when there's no need to do so... 5 miles outside of their destination, boats only able to fetch a course to within maybe 5 or 10 degrees of their waypoint, will instead furl their sails, and motor the rest of the way in...

Congrats to you and Randy on the Monhegan Race, that is AWESOME, well done...

best regards,

Jon