NavList:

Alan, You are quite right in the thoughts you provide. I suppose I just reflect to a time that celestiaL navigation was something not only required but enjoyed, practiced and perfected. It was a mark of professional ability me and my peers of the time took true pride in. In fact when sailing as master it was not uncommon for me to secure or cover the GPS positions and use celestial only for a week or more passage. It was my feeling that as a professional mariner we (I) should be able to take the ship safely to any land fall no matter if the GPS and GYRO failed.
While I can't expect all students to have the level of interest I have in the art, I would like to see more desire for higher professional standards. These days many of the vessels have dynamic position capabilities (DP). I know this is needed for drill ships etc, but at the same time we seem to be building a generation of mariners that know little to nothing of ship handling. A number of sudents seem to more and more tied to the smart phone brain on their hip pocket and not to the one on their shoulders.
But in the end I come from another time.... at least I had a good career and enjoyed cel nav at a time when it was not only needed to pass USCG test, but also required for our safe passage. To that end I consider myself lucky.
Dan
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