What is a FLOAT PLAN?
We at Chesapeake Flotillas believe there are two kinds of floats plans.
The first is an operational float plan. It is essentially your sailing
instructions and navigation details. This includes waypoints, course
headings, navigational notes and details. Every prudent sailor should
take the time to plan their trip, even if it is only a daytrip to nowhere in
particular. The combined effects of tidal currents and weather will
influence the trip. Planning for all those details will at least minimize
the impact of these factors.
The second type is similar to an aviator's flight plan in that it is a brief
description of your trip so that others might know how to find you. The
primary use is that if you do not report the end of your trip by a designated
deadline to whomever holds your float plan, they would contact the appropriate
authorities to report you overdue from your trip. This float plan has a
description of your boat, your land vehicle, the number of people on board, and
the route taken. If you call daily, your shore contact knows your
location within the last 24 hours.
A float plan has two purposes then:
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It enforces discipline on the sailor to adequately and appropriately plan his
or her trip. If done with a reasonable amount of forethought and logic,
it helps one consider all the reasonable possibilities thereby reducing the
worry and trouble at the time of sailing. At some point it may become
nearly automatic but having a template or an example to follow is always
helpful .
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Secondly, the results of a Float Plan provide information that allows a
shoreside contact to act on the sailor's behalf either in the case where
someone needs to reach him or her in an emergency or if in fact, the sailor is
unexpectedly overdue.
Products and Services
Chesapeake Flotillas provides services to address both uses of a float
plan. We can offer Off-The-Shelf float plan kits
for 2 or 3 days cruises to popular destinations. We also provide
more extensive Custom Float Plans individually
assembled to the specifications of your particular adventure. Or...if you
already have your own charts and just need a route and waypoints, we can
provide you with our innovative and unique QuikPlot™.
We stand ready to assist the sailor with his or her planning needs. Click
on any of the links here to read more about our products, services, and
capabilities.