Sailors,

I am planning to take a celestial navigation course over this winter (Dec. '09 - March 2010).

In order to be prepared I read some books and several other literature, but I don't get it. I think it would greatly help if someone could simply explain the initial steps and answer some questions.
I am interested in the manual methode, not where you just enter the sextant angle and the computer does all the other work

Is there one in the group who would be interested to meet and go over this subject.

Please contact me by e-mail at: Bodo.Wolters@FMGlobal.com

Thanks in advance,
Bodo

Bodo,

I too am looking to take a celestial nav class this winter... I have a couple of options that I am looking at ..

John Martino's Annapolis School of Seamanship is offering a 2 day classs on Saturday and Sunday March 6-7. cost about $450 USD

I have also looked into the online program from Starpath www.starpath.com/

Haven't decided on a program just yet.. but am interested in joinig you in your efforts..

Margaret
dolan115@yahoo.com
sv Windseeker IP 38 168

You should also look into Tom Tursi's MDschool.com where he wrote his own book on celestial navigation. He offers this course via his MDschool.com program run out of Rock Hall, MD.
(ps: I built the MDschool web site a long time ago)

mdschool.com/courseDe.htm

I sailed to Bermuda in 2000 aboard IP45 Halimeda with Tom Tursi as captain and he was teaching his celestial navigation course as well. Taking sightings offshore on a moving yacht is a real challenge! Tom allowed us to also plot our own tries at this, as long as we did not mess with his celestial plots. We had a hard time plotting ourselves onto the paper which was 600 miles x 600 miles! Tom's plots would be right next to our GPS digital plots.

The exciting aspect was having Bermuda come over the horizon right were Tom projected it to be using only a sextant. To see that at sea was a real treat.

So if you get a chance to work with Tom Tursi of the MDschool.com, I would take that course first.

Hayden

Hayden,

Thanks, I looked at Tom's school as well.. the problem for me was that the program ran 2 weekends and was being held in Philly .

Margo

Check out the Starpath material. They're a school in Seattle with great course material. They have a website. You can do it at home -- that is, everything except shooting sights. For that, you should be on or near the water. I've done it, and while I learn it and can do it while I'm studying it, I don't retain it! I think celestial is something you have to use to retain, a real use it or lose it skill.

Michael Luskin
"Turtleheart" IP27-146
Scarsdale, NY