After encouraging you to proceed confidently around your course the next item that we must put in your tool box is for that moment that we all dread, but happens to us all sooner or later.  That split second when you are running along and suddenly it dawns on you "I AM LOST".

Now you can ignore your instinct and run on and get more lost. You can throw the map into the air, blame the mapper and wander off in a bad mood and pick some flowers or you could be calm and admit you are lost and use the skill of RELOCATION.

RELOCATION - finding oneself when lost - using an established strategy of orientated map, route memory and references to obvious features on map and ground.

It does not matter how experienced that you think you are, there is no point in wasting time wandering around looking for the control or other orienteers.  Admit that you are lost and start taking positive steps to relocate yourself.

The late Peter Palmer (founder of British Orienteering Coaching) drew up a 12 point relocation table that deals simply with the subject.

RELOCATION.

1.    When the alarm bell ring, STOP, LOOK and LISTEN. Don’t look for, or follow, other people.

2.    Try to remember where you were on the map the last time you were certain of your position.

3.    Orientate the map. CONCENTRATE HARD.

4.    How far have you come, and what have you passed.

5.    Look around you; try to find a large or clear feature to identify, on the ground and on the map.

6.    Note its relationship to other smaller features.

7.    If you are in a featureless area this may be significant.

Negative orienteering.

8.    Have you made parallel error?

9.    What other mistakes could you have made?

10.    You are still lost!

11.    Take a compass bearing to a large line feature this time, for example to a field edge or road, noting your direction of travel and remembering any terrain details. 

12.    If you are still lost and unhappy retrace your steps to the last point at which you can be certain of your position, even if this means the previous control or the start if you are lost looking for control 1.

It may be worth mentioning at this point that that skill in relocation often seems to mark the distinction between a good and a not so good orienteer. We all make mistakes, the difference lies in the ability to minimise the time lost due to these mistakes.

After you have relocated, slow down, work your way back into the map and course. Don’t run off at high speed to try and make up lost time because the chances are that in the rush you will make another mistake and loose more time.

The most important things to remember are first admit that you are lost, second relocate and third enjoy the rest of the course.

Andy Thornton

HANDY ANDY'S TOOLBOX 1.

HANDY ANDY'S TOOLBOX 2 & 3.

HANDY ANDY'S TOOLBOX 4, 5 & 6.

HANDY ANDY'S TOOLBOX 7.

HANDY ANDY'S TOOLBOX 8 & 9.