Range and bearing

[pignutpilot]

When you log down a range and bearing, do you write it as it is said, range first then bearing or bearing first then range or does it matter which way around e.g.

3.5' x 112 degrees (range x bearing)

or is it

112 degrees x 3.5' (bearing X range)

[Martyboy]

112? x 3.5'

[alistairuk]

112 x 3.5'

[GuinnessMan]

When you log down a range and bearing, do you write it as it is said, range first then bearing or bearing first then range or does it matter which way around e.g.

3.5' x 112 degrees (range x bearing)

or is it

112 degrees x 3.5' (bearing X range)

Some pilot you are....

[Clanky]

Surely it's range then bearing if the bearing is from you to the target and bearing then range if the bearing is from the target to you?

[Martyboy]

I would still always go with Bearing first Clanky, Saves drawing a full circle on the chart before drawling the bearing line, plus if you tell your lookout where a target is and you start with a range, it's pointless, if you start with a bearing he'll know where to look straight away

[laura]

When I write in the log it's what it is i.e 'Head Pt ?125 x2.3' (radar/vis)' or however I took the plot in brackets.

[pignutpilot]

Some pilot you are....

I've always done it, and have only ever seen people write it, bearing first then range, but I met someone recently arguing that it should be written range first then baring because you call it a "range and bearing" not a "bearing and range", weak argument I know, but they planted a seed of doubt so I just wanted to see what other people did.

[Whitefall]

Bearing & Range, onboard here it's written as this,
R: 'Some nice solid object' B: 273? D: 8.7NM

Same as if you say it out loud, nobody would really give the range first. At least I've never come across anyone. Maybe I'll train my AB to do it, just to confuse my reliever. I just need to get him to understand that he is supposed to be looking outside and telling me if he sees anything first. Then I'll move him to more advanced stuff, like bearings and colors.

[laura]

Bearing & Range, onboard here it's written as this,
R: 'Some nice solid object' B: 273? D: 8.7NM

Same as if you say it out loud, nobody would really give the range first. At least I've never come across anyone. Maybe I'll train my AB to do it, just to confuse my reliever. I just need to get him to understand that he is supposed to be looking outside and telling me if he sees anything first. Then I'll move him to more advanced stuff, like bearings and colors.

Sailing from Europe down to Cape Town, the first boat to cross our bow in literally weeks was a 300m tanker and what do I get from my look out... the sound of snoring... then complaining about how tired he is on watch, yeah sleeping does tire you out. I'm still trying to decide if he's more use awake or asleep... hmm

[Martyboy]

Window heaters on? :P

[laura]

Not so much a technical issue as a human one...

[Martyboy]

I'd be kicking arses if the lookout fell asleep!!

[pignutpilot]

If you put the ship on autotrack and setup a guard zone around the vessel on the radar you could join the lookout for a snooze.

Remember to switch the BNWAS off first so you don't get rudely awoken.

[laura]

I'd be kicking arses if the lookout fell asleep!!

I find setting a few alarms off with intent does the job rather nicely! A bit of panic to... sharpen the mind!

I also had one come up with his ipod- arse well and truly kicked? I'll say nothing about that particularnationality but in addition to needing snow suits in summer North of France, they also seem to all get seasick at anything above 3m... sigh... prefer having a deck cadet on watch, far more useful and far less prone to sleeping.. plus they make a decent coffee!