Electronic Beacons

Here’s a safe line defined on the chart by a distant transit that’s notoriously difficult to spot. The answer has been to plot a waypoint on it. Coming in from the north, you’re safe on the blue line, but it’s OK to stray as far east as the black line. So long as the waypoint’s bearing stays between the lines, you’re as safe as if you had a bearing on a visible beacon. In fact, you’re safer, because instead of relying on a wavering compass bearing, the bearing of the electronic beacon pops up as a solid and accurate number on the GoTo screen. Don’t forget the health warning, though: all electronic navigation at close quarters must first ensure that the chart and the unit are working to the same datum.