Full Description
Guiding a craft using one of the oldest of the mariner's arts-celestial navigation As romantic--sounding as sailing to Tahiti did centuries ago, using the sun, moon, planets, and stars to guide one's boat on the seas is enjoying a comeback. For those who do not wish to be caught short when modern technology fails on board, knowing how to chart a path with the aid of a sextant is an essential navigating skill. In Celestial Navigation , veteran yachtsman, Tom Cunliffe, reveals how any boat owner can master this seafaring technique, without complex mathematics, using his simplified approach. Readers begin with a sound foundation of basic concepts and definitions, before moving on to the hardware-the sextant and how to use it. Within a few pages, you'll be working out your latitude from a noon sight, and learning how to plot a position from observing the sun, planets, moon or stars-or wherever you may be on the world's oceans.Helps readers prepare for the RYA Yachtsmaster Ocean Exam, which includes celestial navigation as a requirement Includes clear diagrams and worked examples to help guide the novice navigator New edition has downloadable material, a new chapter on electronic navigation as well as the bonus feature of online video demonstrations Whether setting out to sea on a short or long journey, Celestial Navigation is an essential guide to using the sun, moon, planets, and stars as your guideposts home.
Contents
Introduction. 1 The Earth and the Heavens. 2 The Sextant. 3 The Noon Sight for Latitude. 4 Time. 5 Position Lines and Plotting. 6 Sun Sights. 7 The Planets. 8 The Moon. 9 The Stars. 10 Polaris - the Pole Star. 11 Compass Checking on the Ocean. 12 The Shortest Way.
