Ordnance Survey Maps

Thanks CY. I thought the being close to land bit might be similar, had a brief look online as well. Mercator lines etc.....

Same as on land then, triangulation would give a better positioning mind! Not so easy out at sea though! Still enjoy using these skills although the sat nav is good for reassurance, particularly in mist!

It would be interesting to know if they still teach these skills. I learn't them as a youngster both through school with the D of E. and through the Air Training Corp. I certainly made sure our two lads were able to get themselves of a mountain, both when you could triangulate and in zero vis. Hopefully they do still teach them and not rely on GPS. I have one and it is great, until the batteries die on you.

Let's hear it for the quill pen. No electricity required and no moving parts to go wrong. 

But it makes a mess when you spill the ink

Let's hear it for the quill pen. No electricity required and no moving parts to go wrong. 

I have a quill pen, use it for my special Xmas cards!

When out of sight of land, traditionally a sextant is used, a basic explanation can be found here. Nowadays people use  GPS to obtain Lat. & Long. which is great until the kit fails. Always good to know how to do it the old-fashioned way.

Modern day ocean going vessel no longer carry charts. For safety their naviagtion systems are duplicated though and if they want a chart they request a digital copy from their head offices which is then sent over the airwaves.

peedee

You can study navigation via the RYA, various levels of seamanship. see here  I'm happier on dry land with my OS.