Tom Cunliffe
As a young sailor I’d never heard of ‘tactical navigation’. When the issue first came to my notice I set it aside as being downright esoteric, yet all it often means is travelling a little further in order to arrive a lot quicker. Here in home waters north of 50 degrees latitude, it doesn’t take more than an awkward turn in the weather, coupled with a spring tide, to encourage thoughtful mariners to educate themselves, but many of us don’t give the question much consideration until supper starts jumping off the table.
Strategic tacking was a shut book to me as I hacked out of Cherbourg one long-ago Easter to face a 60-mile beat home. My boat was a 22-foot centreboarder whose pointing ability in a big sea was lamentable. The track to the Needles and home lay due North and a solid 25
