Pilotage plans will always vary from harbour to harbour, the challenges of each place mean that each entry or exit will be different. In fact, the plan may need to be changed when conditions change. There are also several different approaches about how skippers go about planning. The main thing is that there must be a plan, and it should be made before leaving harbour-not during the passage.The first place to start is to read the pilot books and almanacs in conjunction with studying the charts. Any key points should be noted on a note pad so that all the relevant information is in one place. This pad should be capable of being taken on deck in any weather conditions.