I Love Hearing What You have to say. Feel Free to Reach Out With Questions, Comments. Let’s have a conversation.

Foggy Horizon

Foggy Horizon

Joshua Liles

The future is foggy. We may know where we want to go, but now we can’t see the horizon. We are traversing known territory, but through weather beyond our control. The fog forces us to change plans, change timelines, go slower, and be safe so we don’t end up shipwrecked by being in a hurry to get out of the fog. What do the experts say about navigating foggy waters?

From National Weather Service: Chances are when you are on the water you will occasionally encounter fog, making navigation a challenge. Because of the time it can take to stop or turn a marine vessel, fog is usually considered dense for mariners if it reduces visibility to less than 1 mile. Fog can form quickly and catch boaters off guard. Visibility can be reduced to a few feet, which can disorient even the most experienced boaters. The international standards for describing reduced visibility in marine forecasts are as follows:

Very Poor: Less than 0.5 nautical miles

Poor: 0.5 to less than 2 nautical miles

Moderate: 2 to 5 nautical miles

Good: Greater than 5 nautical miles

Learning to navigate through fog (or avoiding it) is critical to safe boating. These safety tips will help to keep you safe: I offer some annotations for our fog:

  • Slow down to avoid collisions. Slow Down to avoid infection collisions or slow your mind down to avoid overheating your thinking engine. Extend your time lines, your goals might take longer to reach.

  • Turn on all of your running lights, even in daytime. Be seen. Call your family and friends. Let people know you are there.

  • Listen for sounds of other boats that may be near you or for fog horns and bells from nearby buoys. Really listen. To your friends, to your heart. To your body. They are sending you their signals and need to be heard.

  • VHF NOAA Weather Radio should broadcast important information concerning the formation, movement or dissipation of the fog. Pay close attention. Listen to experts!

  • If your vessel has radar, use it to help locate dangers that may be around you. Know when you are in a safe depth and location. Use every tool you have to survive.

  • Use GPS or a navigation chart to help obtain a fix on your location. If you are unable to get your bearings, stay put until the fog lifts but make sure you are in a safe location. If you don’t have a direction, be still until the fog lifts. The direction and horizon will become clear when the fog lifts.

  • Be familiar with horn and bell sounds you should produce to warn others around you when in dense fog. Know how to sound the alarm. Know who to call when in trouble. Be prepared for everyone’s alarm bells to be sounding.

  • Have a compass available. Even if you don't know where you are in the fog, with a compass you can determine the direction you are navigating. If you have a direction and a compass, check your bearing and proceed slowly listening for the warning bells and fog horns.


The fog will clear eventually, though it may be longer than you like, prepare accordingly.

——-

Thank You So So So Much For Your Support!!!

Love,

Josh

Spin

Spin
Firekeeper

Firekeeper
0