Basic sextant use

[snowleopard]

those who have both taught and examined themselves.....

Or those who have been tested in the ultimate exam.... a landfall after days or weeks out of sight of land!

 

[Babylon]

I've got a basic Sun Almanac and simple Sight Reduction Tables on backbearing.com you might like to have a look at. There's no user guides or tutorials as yet (I'm working on them), but there are links to usefull sites.

Yes, thanks for this. I've already started to work through your online instructions, which so far seem pretty clear.

I suspect that the OP might need to check for side error and parallel errors etc on the sextant if he has only just got it. Mind you if the images come down anywhere near each other, it will be good enough to practice with.

Correct. I've started to read Cunliffe (also picked up a copy of Ranzen for 50p), so there's no reason why I couldn't just carefully follow the instructions about checking for errors and adjusting, etc. But as someone who teaches adults a craft skill to a level not possible from the hundreds of instructional books available, I know the value of a one-to-one lesson from a skilled operator.

Isn't it about a basic level of competence and confidence? ... there are millions of people better at it than I will ever be, but I just spent 2 weeks bouncing down to the Canaries and back from Gib, with 4 more enlightened converts, plus a good workout for me... Its leisure and pleasure, after all !!

Good point. Aside from as a backup to GPS etc - and just as I prefer to use a vernier scale on calipers rather than a bouncing digital readout - I'm attracted by the 'idea' of being able to position fix to a reliable degree of accuracy using a precision instrument and celestial objects.

Thanks to all for the feedback and links.

Babylon

 

[smartcom]

For a review of some of the books on astro navigation, and also a software tool that makes the calculations easy, have a look at http://www.winastro.com.

If you are looking for a course on the S. Coast, I'd strongly recommend Stokey Woodall on the IoW - http://www.internationaloceanservices.com/

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Have a look at

http://www.aztecsailing.co.uk/newaztec/ocean%20theory/ch1/astronav.html

and let me know how you get on.

 

[timbartlett]

Or you could try http://www.rya.org.uk/shop/pages/pr...ultCatalog)&mode=t&type=BK(RYADefaultCatalog)Available from the RYA, from Amazon, and from all good bookshops and chandlers (because bookshops and chandlers that don't have it are bad!! )

 

[Talulah]

And here are 3 ladies attending one of our 'Intro to Celestial Navigation' weekends on board Talulah. Who will later make use of Tim Bartlett's book ;-)
(Apologies to those that have seen this photo before.)