How do you identify the chart symbols that mean flat beach or coastal cliffs? Which ones warn a sailing skipper of vicious rocks and coral reefs that lurk just beneath the sea surface? Here are five easy steps to show you how to get a free illustrated book that’s guaranteed to boost your sailing navigation know-how!

Free Download for Small Boat Cruising Sailors

You’ll find all of these symbols compiled in a nifty book called Chart No. 1. It’s free of charge to the public (see footnote *).

Follow these five steps for your free copy:

1. Enter the NOAA website (see link at bottom of this page)
2. Click on “View NOAA Charts” on the right side.
3. Find the phrase “Nautical Charting Publications” on the left side.
4. Click on “U.S. Chart No. 1″.
5. Click on “Download U.S. Chart No 1 Free” in the white box.

Cruising sailors using British Admiralty navigational charts should order Chart 5011–”Symbols and Abbreviations Used on Admiralty Charts”–through the catalog (see footnote *).

Symbols That Describe Land Features

Navigational charts use three distinct land profile symbols to describe flat or elevated topography.

1. Solid, thin black lines that enclose a land mass show the high tide mark on a flat beach. At low tide, the beach will extend further into the sea, making coastal navigation more hazardous.

2. Serrated, teeth-like marks, joined end-to-end, indicate high coastal cliffs. In heavy weather, take shelter on this side of an island.

3. Concentric or non-concentric circles indicate mountain contours. Cartographers write elevations, useful for coastal and electronic navigation, on the highest peaks. At sea, you can see a 500 foot mountain peak 26 miles away on a clear day.

Symbols That Describe Dangers

Just off the beach, you’ll find nautical symbols that show rocks, coral reefs or dangerous wrecks. All of these could lead an unwary sailing skipper into peril.

1. An asterisk or “plus sign” symbol indicates rocks or coral reef. If these symbols have a dot in the corners or are surrounded by dots, they cover up at high tide. Avoid them like the plague!

2. A fish bone symbol shows a wreck below the sea surface. If dots surround the this symbol you must not attempt to pass over the wreck. Plot your sailing routes to keep at least half a mile from all fish bone wreck symbols.

3. The half-hull wreck symbol shows half of a black wedge with a stick-like mast on top. Keep your small cruising sailboat one mile or more away from these horrors.

These are just a handful of the useful sailing navigation chart symbols you will find in Chart No. 1 or Chart 5011. Learn the most important ones to keep you and your sailing crew safe and sound on the waters of the world.