RYA YM Ocean/Astro Course

A

alant

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2001
Messages
37,589
Location
UK - Solent region
Visit site
For anyone previously frightened off by this course, its now been made easier by eliminating 'Star Sights' from the syllabus.
YM Ocean 'Day Skipper' perhaps?

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Hurrumph, next they will eliminate sailing!

Star sights seemed to me to be the best bit, the celestial equivalent three or four point fix.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
I suppose it's logical really. They removed star sights from the practical part a few years ago, and IIRC you don't actually need to pass the theory paper to get your certificate, you can do a more in depth viva instead.

Not sure I agree though - you might as well drop all sextant work / astro from the course...

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
But Alan, that was the only part of the course you taught me that I understood!

Just kidding....../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

Tony C.

<hr width=100% size=1>Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.......
 
speaking as one who has used astro in anger, star sights are a nice-to-have, sun sights are what really matters.

and no, they aren't easy in practice - first find your star when you can also see the horizon, then make sure it's the right one. only then can you do the easy bit at the chart table. and even then you have to keep buying new copies of vol 1 of the sight reduction tables whereas my vols 2 & 3 are 30 years old.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Do you know what the rationale is?

All very well saying that sun sights are the most important, but what if it's cloudy all day?

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
and what are they replacing it with? i can't think of anything they could add in that isn't already covered by the offshore syllabus.

there's been a continual change over time with less useful things being phased out and others brought in. when i did my first evening class back in 1974, the exam required 6wpm morse by light and 4wpm semaphore plust a night vision test and full knowlege of the international code flags. on the other hand there was no sea time required! not all changes are dumbing down!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
I'm not sure that they are really that important any more for the majority of people.... how many of you actually take a sextant with you?

Sun sights are much easier than stars, but still difficult to get accurate. Fast stars are good if the timing and sky is right.

It would probably be more relevant to discuss maintenance for watermakers, or fuel calculations, than asto nav.

But hey - try taking sights in a 30 footer in a swell, and your won't find it easy (or accurate)

A

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top