NavList:

Hi,

Seb here, I've really enjoyed reading your posts and I am delighted to see mention of my website pages. I would like to address various points raised:

1. I would like to add more detail to my navigational instruments however my duties with the RN have prevented that from happening.

2. Shackleton Epic Expedition did indeed refer to Worsley's Log; a copy of which was kindly given to us by the James family (who recently donated the actual almanac used during the voyage to South Georgia Museum). For many years I've tried to 'decode' Worsley calculations. If any of you fine gentlemen has done so already, I would be delighted to add that information to my website if you're...with full acknowledgement of course. The tricky part is making this information available in 'layman terms'...I want to avoid baffling people with abbreviations and mathematical conundrums. I would welcome your help enormously.

3. What is the serial number of Worsley's sextant? I've been baffled for years and I can't deduce that from photographs alone. Every time try to see Worsley's sextant, its removed from display or overseas - very annoying!

4. With regards Worsley's sextant, the one used on the James Caird, there was only one sextant aboard the boat according to the equipment list recorded in Shackleton's personal account: South. In combination with Worsley's personal account, we know that the sextant used was loaned to Worsley by Hudson, it was manufactured Heath & Co without a doubt.

5. The sextant is not on display at Dulwich College, only the James Caird can be found on display there alongside two Nansen style seldges, and a Burberry windproof suit worn by Kenneth Brannagh in the film 'Shackleton'.

6. The photograph of Worsley using a sextant was taken aboard Quest, I doubt it would be the sextant used during the voyage of the James Caird. It would be too precious in my personal opinion to be used again...perhaps I am wrong. It strikes me that Worsley would probably use a new sextant provided by the expedition.

7. With regard switching instruments during a critical voyage, it would be bad practice to switch between instruments - the errors could amount considerably in estimating a position. If anything, both sextants would be used at the same time by Worsley and Shackleton in order to do a comparison - which was common practice for hundred of years however, there is no mention of this taking place during the voyage of the James Caird so I strongly believe only one sextant was taken on the journey. These were very smart men, with great seamanship ability...they' would risk switching instruments, unless one was catastrophically damaged, or lost.

I would be delighted to continue discussing this interesting topic, can I invite you to join my website Forum. Likewise, I would be delighted to continue contributing through this site.

Regards to all your readers.

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