NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Role of CN at sea, was Re: Averaging sights ...
From: Robert Gainer
Date: 2004 Oct 15, 18:45 +0000
From: Robert Gainer
Date: 2004 Oct 15, 18:45 +0000
Herbert Prinz said, >I do not see how one can maintain this attitude in the face of reality. In >my >admittedly very limited experience of ten thousand off shore miles over the >last >ten years I have not ONCE been in a situation where GPS didn't work, but >cel nav >would. In fact, I have not once been in a situation at sea where GPS didn't >work. >Full stop. But I have REPEATEDLY been in situations where celestial was >unavailable for several days in a row and GPS was the only position finding >tool >available. Conclusion: Celestial is not even a backup! > Herbert, I almost hate to admit this, but I still only use CN and a taffrail log as my only means of navigation offshore. More then that, I use a 56-hour chronometer. I sail for the pleasure of sailing, if you take all the skill out of it what�s the point to spending all the money to do a trip that can be better made for less cost by air. Take it to the extreme, a radio controlled boat run from your couch at home, what�s the point. I have several trans Atlantics now and there have been many times that CN was not available do to weather. I maintain a plot that is compared to all outside data and can see the effects of current and leeway so I think I can maintain a DR track going forward for several days without any worry. I deal with navigation the same way I deal with sailing without an engine or electric system. Plan ahead and try not to get into a position where you �need� either the engine or magic for navigation. They share some of the same goals, stay off lee shores and don�t make landfall under poor conditions. I know how to watch the weather, and time my landfall to avoid bad weather and a foul tide. I take some pride in my skills and have no immediate plans to add any electronics to my boat. All the best, Robert Gainer _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! hthttp://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
