The pilot books claim to be your companion in strange waters, giving useful navigational and pilotage information and details of shore facilities, such as restaurants, chandleries etc. However the authors cannot get to every corner of their patch each year, so the information is inevitably out of date. Some information is I think just copied out of old books unchecked. They are also worried that we might do something careless, so they issue strong warnings about dangers, both real and imagined. In such cases you have to read between the lines to see if it is safe to do anything at all!
Below are a few extracts from pilot books, together with what they really mean:
Pilot book: "Anchor beyond the moorings"
Real Meaning: "The space beyond the moorings is filled with more moorings, so you cannot anchor there"
Pilot book: "Anchor well in to the bay to stay out of the tide"
Real Meaning: "Try to find a space anywhere among all the anchored boats already there"
Pilot book: "Make good a track to place ... lighthouse bearing 110 1/2 mile and continue on this track until the first port beacon No 2 bears 215...SHOM chart 7125 is the only one to use..."
Real Meaning: "Go into the middle of the bay and then follow the beacons to the harbour"
Pilot book: "The belfry of ... church will be open just to the left [of the light tower]"
Real Meaning: "Nobody has ever seen this transit. Enter the middle of the bay and head for the harbour"
Pilot book: "...but is subjected to the Atlantic swell, strong tidal streams, steep seas and the visibility is often poor"
Real Meaning: "dozens of boats go through every day in summer, so you can do it too"
Pilot book: "...with swell and strong onshore winds against the ebb, the bar can become impassable..."
Real Meaning: "don't be stupid"
Pilot book: "The passage from ... over ... to ... is included for interest. It should on no account be attempted by visitors unless..."
Real Meaning: "I am mad"
