The Navigator

Among Captain Mercer's papers was a folded exercise prepared for officers who had completed their instruction in chart reading.

Mercer believed that plotting a course on paper was only the beginning.

A competent navigator needed to apply those skills under changing conditions, make sound decisions, and always know precisely where the voyage would end.

Attached to the exercise was a brief instruction in Captain Mercer's hand.

Exhibit LE-06

Captain Mercer's Training Exercise Map

The Navigator's Examination

Navigation Exercise

A Modern Navigation Exercise

Although Captain Mercer relied upon a sextant, charts, compass bearings and dead reckoning, the principles of navigation have changed very little.

This modern exercise demonstrates the same skills expected of every competent navigator aboard the Lady Eleanor.

The day began with great promise.

You launched the boat from the Boat Ramp at Toorbul near the end of Freeman Road, with a freshly packed esky, a hopeful fishing rod, and the confidence of a captain who was absolutely certain that today would be the day the “big one” was caught.

Leaving the ramp, you set your course.

The first leg of the voyage took you:

2.315 nautical miles
at a bearing of 352.5803°

The sea was calm, the boat behaved itself, and nobody had fallen overboard yet — which was considered an excellent start.

After reaching your first waypoint, the crew decided that a few refreshments were required. Naturally, this was not procrastination — it was “important maritime preparation.”

Once suitably refreshed, you continued the voyage.

The new course was:

Bearing: 293.8595°
Distance: 1.243 nautical miles

This was to be the legendary fishing spot.

The rods were cast. The bait was ready. The crew waited.

And waited.

And waited.

After a couple of hours of completely uneventful fishing, the only thing caught was a conversation about whether fish were actually avoiding the boat on purpose.

Just as you were preparing to give the fish a stern lecture about their poor manners, disaster struck.

Your co-captain announced:

Captain… we have a situation.

It turned out the co-captain had developed a serious tummy-bug and was now requesting immediate landfall.

The fishing mission was officially abandoned. Survival had become the priority.

You fired up the engine and set the final course:

Bearing: 165.95559°
Distance: 1.378 nautical miles

The boat headed onward, carrying one disappointed fisherman, one uncomfortable co-captain, and a suspiciously empty bait bucket.

After following the final bearing and distance…

The question remains:

Where did you make landfall?

Orders from the Captain

Use your navigation skills to discover the final destination.

Enter the name of the location into Certitude to receive the true corrected coordinates.

Plot well. Land true.

You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

VOYAGE STATUS:

Navigation exercise completed. Awaiting Weather Report.

Footnote:

Lady Eleanor Maritime Collection
Chapter 1 — Exhibit  5 of 12
Collection Reference: LE-05
Collection Status: Departure Authorised.