Which chart scale is used for Sailing charts?

• A. Sailing (1:600,000 and larger)
• B. Coastal (1:50,000-150,000)
• C. General (1:150,000-600,000)
• D. Small Craft (1:40,000 and larger)

Answer: (A)

Sailing charts are designed for broad, open-ocean planning and long-range navigation, so they use the smallest-scale end of the chart spectrum. This means a scale around 1:600,000 or smaller (1:600,000 and larger in the chart category wording), which covers large areas with essential navigation details rather than harbor-level detail. The other chart types are intended for nearer-shore work and thus use progressively larger scales (more detail): Coastal charts show shorelines and ports at about 1:50,000–1:150,000; General charts cover intermediate ranges; Small Craft charts focus on nearshore, harbor, and local navigation at around 1:40,000 and larger. In practice, for planning routes across oceans, the sailing chart scale of 1:600,000 and larger is the appropriate choice.