Sextants - as useless as sudocu

[Barnacle Bill]

Wrong on several levels.

We used to use several sextants, and the bodies to wield them, for precision navigation (better than the Transit system) in minesweeping and pilotage into ports. Required some pre-planning but very effective. Good enough to lead the team out on a Thursday.

Well I have used horizontal sextant angles to pinpoint dive sites, but working with position circles isn't very easy. However I will certainly remember to take my sextant the next time I go minesweeping.

I stand corrected.

 

[ChrisE]

You entirely missed my point. Last I checked, both my watch and the ship's clock were unlikely to be switched off, adjusted or in any other way messed up by any agency other than my own. Hence, the comment on self-sufficiency.

Neither timepiece is digital either.

Clearly I should have turned my ironly button on as well.....

 

[HoratioHB]

Been away - just seen this, 'cos I've been doing my YM Ocean and have now just written to the RYA about exactly this. A weeks shore course for the qualification and a a 600 mile passage plus oral exam. 4.5 days of the course was astro navigation including stars, moon and planets as well as the sun. Practical and oral exam only require sun sights - er why teach all the other stuff?? Especially when there is so much that the course ignores or barely touches on. Electrical Power management, offshore safety, crew management, international issues etc etc. I've lived on board for several years and done over 4000 miles in that time so feel I have some idea for what is important. Just out of interest, I'm about to do the ARC apart from the Raymarine E120 we have two tablets with navionics plus two telephones with the same. Also at least another three GPS systems. So even if we get hit by lightning something is going to work. If the satellites go pop we'll just keep heading westish.
So to go to the original question - I'll keep my sextant just for the pure satisfaction of finding my position to within 4 miles of the GPS and to impress others. BUT as a modern useful navigation aid -nah.

 

[ChrisE]

Clearly I should have turned my ironly button on as well.....

Does an ironly button count as irony?

 

[Searush]

Suduko? I never did hold with funny foreign foods, what's wrong wiv yer normal Fray Bentos, from Argentina?

 

[capnsensible]

I secretly admire those who still know how to use a sextant

but in my experience in UK waters

given the smallness of my boat

the cloudiness of my skies

they seem an utter waste of good engineering and scarce personal grey matter.

They are, in my opinion, about as useful as sudocu.

An utterly pointless intellectual excercise.

By the way my wife warned me that I would alienate one group of sailors after another until there were only three left who still agreed with.

Dylan

I've got 2 sextants

I have sailed across oceans

I know how to use one

I like it

I can do sun, stars, moon and planets

Cos I can.

To anyone who cannot be ar$ed

Its your life, do whatever.

I do!!!!

 

[capnsensible]

Been away - just seen this, 'cos I've been doing my YM Ocean and have now just written to the RYA about exactly this. A weeks shore course for the qualification and a a 600 mile passage plus oral exam. 4.5 days of the course was astro navigation including stars, moon and planets as well as the sun. Practical and oral exam only require sun sights - er why teach all the other stuff?? Especially when there is so much that the course ignores or barely touches on. Electrical Power management, offshore safety, crew management, international issues etc etc. I've lived on board for several years and done over 4000 miles in that time so feel I have some idea for what is important. Just out of interest, I'm about to do the ARC apart from the Raymarine E120 we have two tablets with navionics plus two telephones with the same. Also at least another three GPS systems. So even if we get hit by lightning something is going to work. If the satellites go pop we'll just keep heading westish.
So to go to the original question - I'll keep my sextant just for the pure satisfaction of finding my position to within 4 miles of the GPS and to impress others. BUT as a modern useful navigation aid -nah.

The entry to YM Ocean exam is YM Offshore. So you should know what is important.

What you dont know is astro. That is why you do the course. For enlightenment! Get your first fix from the Heavens and you will be a convert!!!

Do enjoy the ARC, look out for Mojomo.

Personally, I would not be in a rally that would have me as a member

 

[Jamesuk]

I've got a sextant and am doing my Y/M Ocean but I agree with you.

If you jumped on board the yacht I work on you could be forgiven at the end of a trip in thinking sailing is as easy as waking up. Sextant navigation is great but the day I find a yacht owner who wishes to go pre electronics then I have to make do with GPS and having the sextant on the shelf for conversation only although being 95years old do I dare touch it.

The bottom line "if you know your constellations its a great hit with the ladies"

 

[Joker]

Dylan is very fond

of the ENTER key

and thinks

he is writing clerihews

such as:

"Would you rather sin

with Elinor Glyn

upon a tiger skin

or would you prefer

to err

with her

on some other fur?"

 

[Seajet]

I'll have a small one of whatever he's having...

 

[auditdata]

I have to agree with the OP
When I was at school I had friends who had “Back to Mono” banners in their bedrooms.
10 years later the same friends had “Back to Vinyl”
10 years later one of those friend said email was a fad and the the CB of the 90s
But when I was off the Old Head of Kinsale in a FS8 in low viz those same friends couldn’t get to my GPS quick enough. And that was over 10 years ago.
Last week I was clearing out the attic and put my slide rule in the rubbish to take to the tip. When it fell out the back of the car one of the waste recycling centre staff called his friends over to stare and laugh as I explained what it was for.
Sextant, get over it.
Clive
PS I cant help wanting to learn how to use it!!!!!!!