What navigation and ship handling skills (without instruments) should junior officer have?

[Kennebec_Captain]

Good thread on this same subject here:

Losing the Plot - Navigation / Piloting / Collision Avoidance

So we have a new third mate, making his first trip at sea. Sharp guy, learns fast. The ship is transiting through a short passage between reefs, maybe about four of five miles wide, daytime, good visibility. At the end of the passage there’s a turn into more open water. The ends on both sides of the passage can be easily seen visually and are marked by aids. There are a few fishing boats moving around in the vicinity. A simple problem by eye but that’s not how the third mate does it. Instead …