Navigation Training

Sunday 13th September 2009

It was a good turn out of 15 members that took the short walk from The Woodman to Ferry Meadows for navigation training. Alan measured out a distance for us all to walk up and down to gauge our average individual pace.

We then had a quick lesson on the very basics of map reading before being paired up with our map, bearings and compasses to complete the short orienteering course.

We learnt to place the compass on the map with the direction of the travel arrow pointing in the direction we were going, to line up the two location points with the edge of the compass base plate, use the faint blue grid lines to ensure they are parallel with the lines within the compass housing and ensuring the North needle is pointing to the north on the map by rotating the compass housing, read a bearing.

Holding the compass in front of us and having noted a visual landmark we set off in the direction indicated to find the red and white markers placed around the course using our bearings.

It was interesting to discover that we did not walk in very straight lines even though you think you are and gave us an insight to how dangerous it could be, in real life situations, if you get your bearings wrong and do not check them regularly.

We were unaware until the end that it was a timed exercise which is probably why the last group wandered in after two hours – but no doubt having gained extensive knowledge en route! [Ed – well it was the self–styled “three barbies”!] Meanwhile the rest of us enjoyed a well earned coffee.

A very interesting and useful day.

Report – Sue

And for future reference these are everyone’s recorded paces: