bilbobaggins
N/A
Considering the gentle mockery that occasionally surfaces here when someone seeks guidance on buying or use of a marine sextant, peeps might be intrigued to know that the RYA Shop is currently completely sold out of sextants, and that other surprised suppliers report sales of the 'sun gun' instrument are way up this year.
There has been a catchphrase within the RYA's Training Department for a good number of years that "We don't want to teach the history of navigation", which gets trotted out whenever someone raises the question of why 'astro' - so long the marque of a professionally-skilled sea navigator - has been systematically 'dumbed-down' in the RYA's Ocean syllabus. One wonders if those uttering this 'quick quip' are themselves not up to standard in the respected skills of 'sun-gunnery'.
Even the fairly-esteemed writer of the RYA's Astro book - just launched - has recommended on these forums, to anyone considering an ocean passage, to 'get a GPS'. Fair enough. The Fellow goes on to suggest that a sextant ( and the know-how to use it effectively ) is better relegated to the role of an interesting toy. Hmmmm.
After GPS, AIS, radar, chartplotter and autopilot is mastered, what is left but to study, practice, and derive satisfaction from the 'masterclass' level of ocean navigation, Astro?
It seems to me that sailing peeps are choosing to raise their game, in this regard, when considering an transocean trip. And a solitary single sun position line on a >600nm passage is hardly likely to meet the need. It rather appears as though the sailing public, seeking to increase personal skills and seamanship, is choosing to reject that viewpoint.
Overheard recently at a Navigation Conference, uttered by a noted Yachtmaster Examiner - "I had what we call in the trade a 'Grand Slam' the other week. I failed all four candidate Yachtmasters...."
In a discussion on secondary navigation systems for shipping, in an IMO context, it was commented that aviation navigation had long been committed to the principle of dropping into 'reversionary navigation' modes, should the primary system fail. Such navigators/pilots are expected to continue, using such procedures, without hazarding the aircraft in any way. The same has always been true of marine navigation. It was mentioned, however, by an RYA representative that 'many of us feel that failure of the GPS would constitute an emergency situation'.
Failure of the GPS an 'emergency'?
Perhaps it's our esteemed 'National Governing Body' that's getting a little out of step with what's required.
There has been a catchphrase within the RYA's Training Department for a good number of years that "We don't want to teach the history of navigation", which gets trotted out whenever someone raises the question of why 'astro' - so long the marque of a professionally-skilled sea navigator - has been systematically 'dumbed-down' in the RYA's Ocean syllabus. One wonders if those uttering this 'quick quip' are themselves not up to standard in the respected skills of 'sun-gunnery'.
Even the fairly-esteemed writer of the RYA's Astro book - just launched - has recommended on these forums, to anyone considering an ocean passage, to 'get a GPS'. Fair enough. The Fellow goes on to suggest that a sextant ( and the know-how to use it effectively ) is better relegated to the role of an interesting toy. Hmmmm.
After GPS, AIS, radar, chartplotter and autopilot is mastered, what is left but to study, practice, and derive satisfaction from the 'masterclass' level of ocean navigation, Astro?
It seems to me that sailing peeps are choosing to raise their game, in this regard, when considering an transocean trip. And a solitary single sun position line on a >600nm passage is hardly likely to meet the need. It rather appears as though the sailing public, seeking to increase personal skills and seamanship, is choosing to reject that viewpoint.
Overheard recently at a Navigation Conference, uttered by a noted Yachtmaster Examiner - "I had what we call in the trade a 'Grand Slam' the other week. I failed all four candidate Yachtmasters...."
In a discussion on secondary navigation systems for shipping, in an IMO context, it was commented that aviation navigation had long been committed to the principle of dropping into 'reversionary navigation' modes, should the primary system fail. Such navigators/pilots are expected to continue, using such procedures, without hazarding the aircraft in any way. The same has always been true of marine navigation. It was mentioned, however, by an RYA representative that 'many of us feel that failure of the GPS would constitute an emergency situation'.
Failure of the GPS an 'emergency'?
Perhaps it's our esteemed 'National Governing Body' that's getting a little out of step with what's required.
