Ron Slott's Road Rally Navigation Guide
Lesson 3 - Herringbones
Lesson 3 - Herringbones
Fishy business this one, a 'Herringbone' in Rally terms has nothing marine about it at all. It is just another form of Navigation which you are likely to have thrust through the window at you at a control somewhere. Herringbones vary in style and complexity, and, as usual, it is down to the Navigator to work it out.
As I mentioned, there are many variants of Herringbone, but we will start with the basics and work up from there.
A herringbone is simply a line representing the route that you are expected to follow, with all the roads at junctions etc. shown as the 'bones' sticking of of the side, looking typically like a cartoon fish skeleton. It is a good thing to remember that the route is the backbone, and all the roads that you pass and miss are the ones on the sides.
A simple Herringbone is a straight line, with a ball at one end, and an arrow at the other. Start at the ball (which is usually where you are sitting in the car at a control) and go to the arrow. See illustration below:
Go to map reference 185/668331 and assume you are in the car and pointing WEST. At this point I would give the handout to the driver and get him to call out 'miss a left, miss a right etc.' and literally do that. If you start at the ball, and proceed toward the arrow, the first 'bone' is on the left. You therefore 'miss' a left, effectively turning right. The first junction you arrive at is a 'Slot Right'. In order to miss a left you must turn right.
The next junction is shown as three roads, arranged like a fan on the right of the line. When you look at the map you see a 5 way junction. Clearly then you miss '3' on the right, leaving your only option as turn left. Following this theme, solve the remainder of the handout, and then click this LINK. Your map should look like the image.
The next junction is shown as three roads, arranged like a fan on the right of the line. When you look at the map you see a 5 way junction. Clearly then you miss '3' on the right, leaving your only option as turn left. Following this theme, solve the remainder of the handout, and then click this LINK. Your map should look like the image.
Two top Lady Co-Drivers, Left - Fabrizia Pons and Right - Tina Thörner
Now event organisers and 'Nav setters' often have nasty tricks up their sleeves. You may find no balls and arrows, or reversed so that the route runs from arrow to ball or right to left. You just got to stick at it till you find a route that works. Another 'old favourite' is to 'mirror' the herringbone, so that the lefts become rights and vice versa. Hang in there.
There is however worse to come. The dreaded 'Circular Herringbone' raises it's ugly head. Now the circular version is particularly challenging as in most cases does not have a start or a finish. You therefore have to look at the map features in relation to where you are, or where you know you have to go to, and see what/where it matches, and work from there. Let's have a go. Here is a circular Herringbone, starting from where you left off the previous standard herringbone at 185/620343. AND, just to help this time - go clockwise from 12 O'clock :o)
Now event organisers and 'Nav setters' often have nasty tricks up their sleeves. You may find no balls and arrows, or reversed so that the route runs from arrow to ball or right to left. You just got to stick at it till you find a route that works. Another 'old favourite' is to 'mirror' the herringbone, so that the lefts become rights and vice versa. Hang in there.
There is however worse to come. The dreaded 'Circular Herringbone' raises it's ugly head. Now the circular version is particularly challenging as in most cases does not have a start or a finish. You therefore have to look at the map features in relation to where you are, or where you know you have to go to, and see what/where it matches, and work from there. Let's have a go. Here is a circular Herringbone, starting from where you left off the previous standard herringbone at 185/620343. AND, just to help this time - go clockwise from 12 O'clock :o)
Now to check your solution, click HERE and compare the photo to your map.
Just imagine then that you get presented with a circular herringbone with NO starting point, NO clue as to direction and possibly mirrored. These experts definitely earn their keep!
Don't forget, if you have any questions you can email me directly at [email protected] I promise to be back to you within a couple of days.
Just imagine then that you get presented with a circular herringbone with NO starting point, NO clue as to direction and possibly mirrored. These experts definitely earn their keep!
Don't forget, if you have any questions you can email me directly at [email protected] I promise to be back to you within a couple of days.
Useful Links:
Don Barrow Rally Navigation http://www.donbarrow.co.uk
The Basic Roamer Company http://www.thebasicroamer.co.uk
Note: Before buying any equipment, check around your Motor Club Buddies first. You never know what is up for sale, or even available from the Club itself.
To open this page as a PDF, Click HERE
Link to NAV 4 - Road Book and Timing
Don Barrow Rally Navigation http://www.donbarrow.co.uk
The Basic Roamer Company http://www.thebasicroamer.co.uk
Note: Before buying any equipment, check around your Motor Club Buddies first. You never know what is up for sale, or even available from the Club itself.
To open this page as a PDF, Click HERE
Link to NAV 4 - Road Book and Timing