Templates
Print it, fill it, learn it
Free, printable sailing training templates — passage and pilotage plans, tidal-curve and course-to-steer worksheets, deck logs, the pre-departure and engine checks and crew checklists, plus reference sheets for the code flags, Beaufort scale, IALA buoyage, lights and shapes, sound signals and chart symbols. Original Learn the Sea forms, free to print. Each is our own layout — free to print and use, and a clean way to practise the methods by hand.
Working proformas
Blank forms to fill in as you plan and navigate.
Passage plan
Print & PDFThe full pre-passage plan — boat, crew, legs, tides, weather, safety and bolt-holes.
Pilotage plan
Print & PDFHarbour entry or exit, leg by leg — transits, clearing bearings, depths and a sketch.
Tidal curve worksheet
Print & PDFFind the height of tide at a time, or the time for a height, with a blank plotting grid.
Secondary port correction
Print & PDFInterpolate a standard port to a secondary port — time and height differences.
Tidal stream hour ladder
Print & PDFThe hour-by-hour tidal stream, HW−6 to HW+6, with neap/spring rates and the day’s rate.
Course to steer
Print & PDFThe vector working — ground track, tidal stream, water track, leeway, CTS, SOG and ETA.
Deviation card
Print & PDFRecord the compass deviation on each heading after swinging the compass.
Deck log
Print & PDFThe hourly log — time, distance, course, wind, barometer and remarks.
EP & running fix
Print & PDFEstimated position and running-fix working sheet — DR, tide, leeway and a single object run on.
Cruising logbook
Print & PDFA voyage-by-voyage record — dates, passage, distance, hours and crew.
Deck log (simplified)
Print & PDFA cut-down hourly log for short coastal hops.
Checklists
The routine checks, written down so nothing is forgotten.
Pre-departure checks
Print & PDFThe walk-round before you slip — boat, engine, safety, navigation, crew.
Engine checks — W.O.B.B.L.E.
Print & PDFThe daily diesel check by the W.O.B.B.L.E. mnemonic — before you press the button.
Watch handover
Print & PDFWhat the off-going watch hands to the on-coming one — nothing assumed, nothing lost.
End-of-day checks
Print & PDFSecuring the boat for the night, alongside or at anchor.
Leaving the boat
Print & PDFShutting down properly when you step ashore for more than a night.
Crew safety brief
Print & PDFThe induction every new crew member gets before you slip.
Kit list
Print & PDFWhat to bring aboard for a coastal passage — personal, wet-weather and useful.
Reference sheets
The tables worth printing and keeping at the chart table.
Mayday — VHF distress call
Print & PDFThe distress call script, in order, to tape up beside the radio.
Beaufort wind scale
Print & PDFWind force 0–12 with the knot band, the name and what the sea looks like.
Sound signals
Print & PDFThe manoeuvring and fog signals from the collision regulations.
Rope & its uses
Print & PDFWhich fibre for which job — stretch, floating and strength.
Chart symbols & abbreviations
Print & PDFThe most-used abbreviations from the chart, for the chart table.
Code flags — A–Z & numerals
Print & PDFThe 26 International Code of Signals letter flags and the ten numeral pennants, with their phonetic names.
Lights & shapes
Print & PDFThe night lights and day shapes vessels show — what you see and what it means.
IALA buoyage (Region A)
Print & PDFLateral, cardinal, isolated-danger, safe-water and special marks for Region A.