1. RYA Instructor Conference 2019
How to teach RADAR without a RADAR?!?
Andy Wright
Yachtmaster Instructor Trainer
Protecting your Rights, Promoting your Interests

2. Aim Objectives Aim and Objectives
To introduce teaching RADAR concepts onboard with no RADAR available
Objectives
Explain the key RADAR Concepts
Discuss and show examples of how RADAR concepts can be taught
Demonstrate some practical examples
Protecting your Rights, Promoting your Interests

3. What does the RYA ask us to Examine at YM Offshore level?..................
Absolute basics
Position
Navigation and Pilotage
Rule 5 (Lookout)
Rule 6 (Safe Speed)
Rule 7 (Risk of collision)
Rule 19 (Restricted Visibility)

4. What to our students need to know…………
Absolute basics:
After turning on…
Heading mode in use (HU,NU,CU)
Can identify and describe the basic use of EBL, VRM
Knowledge of gain, rain and sea clutter controls but understands that auto settings are usually sufficient on modern sets.

5. Position VRM for position fixing
knowledge of the impact of topography on ability to use radar in pilotage waters
understand reasons for avoiding using an EBL for position fixing due beam width error and accuracy of bearing due display mode (Head up (relative bearing), North up (true bearing), Course up (pretend true if ground stabilised)
when using radar range and bearing is suitable e.g. with Racon or LANBY.

6. Navigation and Pilotage:
Sat derived positions
Understands using radar overlay on a chart plotter gives an independent means in pilotage waters.
Distress Signals (SOLAS Annex IV):
Understands the operation of Search and Rescue Radar Transponders and how it looks on a radar screen at long, medium and close ranges

7. Look out (Rule 5)
Knowledge of ‘all available means’ includes radar if fitted  and when appropriate
Knowledge of monitoring a target’s range and bearing using VRM, rings and EBL to assess risk of collision
Safe Speed (Rule 6b)
Knowledge of the need to consider the impact of a radar and its operators effectiveness due to sea state and traffic density, rain etc when setting a safe speed (Rule 6)

8. Risk of Collison (Rule 7)
Understands the risk of making decisions based on scanty information, particularly RADAR,
Understand importance of training/experience if intending to use radar for Colregs or pilotage,
Knowledge of ‘radar visibility’ of common vessel construction materials (wood, GRP, metal or ferro-crete boats)
Understands the importance of correctly mounting a radar reflector

9. Restricted Vis (Rule 19)
Understands action to take if risk of collision detected only by radar (19d)
understands the relationship between (relative motion) track of a target and actual direction of travel of the target (very simplified interpretation of OWA triangle NOT full plotting with projected TCPA etc)
knowledge of automatic tracking  aids and small boat radars (eg MARPA) and limitations imposed by nature of sources ()e.g. no compass, so your heading is actually COG) and or significant variations in vessel speed and heading preventing accurate calculation

10. RADAR Concepts Collisions – Head up Navigation – North Up
EBL
CPA
TCPA
Relative speed and motion
Navigation – North Up
Range and bearing
VRM fix
Pilotage
VRM Parallel index
Weather – Head up or North up

11. But first this………………. The 6 minute rule
6 minutes is 1/10th of an hour.
In 6 minutes at 6 knots you travel 0.6 Nm
In 6 minutes at 10 knots you travel 1.0 Nm
In 6 minutes at 25 knots you travel 2.5 Nm
So we always plot in 6 minute intervals

12. Using the EBL for collisions avoidance
It’s a great way to check the crews bearings
It gets us using the RADAR
It allows us to make a decision early about a collision

13. 000 8
6 nm
1 nm
1200 – 040
1206 – 041
EBL

14. 000 8
6 nm
1 nm
1200 – 318
1206 – 313
EBL

15. 000 8
6 nm
1 nm
1200 – 027
1206 – 025
EBL

16. 000 8
6 nm
1 nm
1200 – 300
1206 – 302
CPA 1.2 nm

17. O – W – A What does it mean?
When we are plotting we have letters to help us remember what is going on!
Maybe remember a simple plot to show students on a course?
O = ‘Original’ Plot of the contact
W = Signifies ‘Way’
A = Signifies ‘Another’
O – W is ‘Own Way’
W – A is ‘Way of Another’

18. A W O Head Up CPA 1.2 nm Vessels true course 050
000 8
6 nm
1 nm
Head Up
1200 – 300
1206 – 302
Vessels true course 050
(add you hdg to other ships heading – its relative!)
Vessels true Speed 2.5miles (in 12 mins) – 12.5 knts O A
CPA 1.2 nm W

19. North Up W A O Target true heading 090 T Overtaking CPA 1nm 120 10x
North Up
CPA 1nm
Target true heading 090 T
Overtaking W A O

20. VRM 3.5 miles
VRM – will give a 3 point fix

22. Range: 3.67
Bearing: 048

23. True and relative motion
RADAR sets can display true or relative motion
Sets on small boats can usually only display relative due to input restrictions
So we have to interpret the picture (without a RADAR!)
The problem we have is that we stay stationary (seemingly) in the centre of the RADAR screen. But of course we know we’re moving, and the targets around us are moving, so they're moving relatively to us. When we avoiding collisions (or not) we need to make the picture (or plotting sheet) into true motion.

24. O A W

25. Head Up O A W

26. O
W & A
Head Up

27. Chart table RADAR
Counters to simulate true and relative motion (using plotting sheet)
Draw EBL on a plotting sheet with CPA:
Demonstrating a collision situation
Vessel passing ahead and astern
Demonstrate a VRM 3 point fix
Demonstrate a VRM Range and Bearing
Draw a collision using a O, W, A Triangle (CPA, TCPA, boat speed and aspect)
Use a VRM to run along a wall or coastline
Head up and North up Plots

28. What else can we say about RADAR?
Mini Automatic RADAR Plotting Aid (MARPA)
How to acquire targets
What information it gives us
Limitations
Number of contacts
Symbols and vectors
Trails
Tracking weather
Rule 19

29. Rule 19
Don’t turn to Port
Don’t turn towards the vessel

30. Now its time to get creative…………
Using the assorted bits and pieces scattered around, have a go in small groups re-creating some of the RADAR concepts we have looked at?
Demonstrate a EBL on a contact with various CPA
Create a OWA plot
Make a Rule 19 plotting sheet place various vessels to test the correct decision
Re-create the true / relative motion scenario

31. Conclusion
Aim
To introduce teaching RADAR concepts onboard with no RADAR available
I hope the session has been useful and inspired you to explore how to teach some RADAR concepts without a RADAR.
Any questions????????