Imray charts, much loved by yachtsman, are produced by Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson, a company with very long history in the chart making business. In fact until the First World War, their "Blueback" charts were the preferred choice of professional mariners.
Imray charts are drawn up in house and produced using data from
the UKHO (Admiralty), and thus can be considered equally accurate.
In fact Imray charts have been awarded official recognition by the
MCA for carriage on Code vessels under 24m and fishing vessels
under 24m in length.
Much detail of absolutely no relevance to the small craft sailor is
omitted from these charts, and often plans and insets (of great
relevance to the small craft mariner) are superimposed on
"redundant" areas of the chart. This tends to
make a good value for money package.
All Imray charts are printed on Pretex, a partially synthetic
paper, which folds well and is durable in damp conditions. It may
be drawn on in both soft pencil and ballpoint pen. Those used to
using the quality cartridge paper of the UKHO charts, will find
this shiny semisynthetic material somewhat irritating to work
with.
Various ranges of charts are published covering areas frequented by
yachtsman, including Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean and the
Caribbean. Likewise Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson commission and
produce a huge range of "pilot books" and
cruising guides covering these areas and others.
C Series Charts
Around Northwest Europe, including the UK, Imray's
"C" series charts are of a scale suitable for
coastal passage making, and all Imray charts are normally published
to an approximately A4 fold format and supplied in robust pvc
wallets. Dimensions: C charts: 787 x 1118mm
(31’’ x 44’’).
Y Series Charts
"Y" series charts are generally of a larger scale
than the "C" series charts, and cover rivers and
harbours.
2000 Chart Folios
"2000" small format chart folios are A2 in size
and are supplied in booklets consisting of 10 charts covering a
particular area.
Corrections
Charts are generally reprinted on average every two years, at which
time they are corrected to date. Once a new edition has been
published the old edition cannot be corrected and is unsafe for
navigation and should be replaced.
Corrections received after printing may be downloaded from
www.imray.com as Correction Notices. These are regularly updated
and the web site should be checked.
Historical note:
The Admiralty only started developing their own charts after the
appointment in 1795 of Alexander Dalrymple as the
Admiralty's first Hydrographer. The very first Admiralty
chart didn't appear until 1800 (this was of Quiberon Bay in
Brittany, an area where the Royal Navy had spent much time
blockading the French).
By 1855, the Admiralty Chart Catalogue listed 1,981 charts and
64,000 copies of them had been issued to the Royal Navy.
During the First World War professional mariners became far more
accustomed to to the Admiralty charts, and over a period of time
Imray's were displaced from the commercial market. The
venerable firm carried on and found a niche in the leisure market
that was not catered for by the Admiralty charts, and today is
probably the biggest publisher of leisure charts and pilot books.
Even to this day, directors bearing the name Wilson carry on the
long tradition.
