NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: How did Sumner navigate in 1837?
From: Bruce Stark
Date: 2003 May 25, 14:58 EDT
From: Bruce Stark
Date: 2003 May 25, 14:58 EDT
In his May 24 post, Peter summed up some thoughts with: "As Conrad said, the true peace of God is only known a thousand miles from land." Trevor commented: "Conrad's wisdom, as Peter quoted it, may be as solid guidance for non-electronic navigators as any of the more technical stuff that keeps this list busy." It also justifies Nathaniel Bowditch's attitude. He thought it best to spend more time taking observations and less time trying to get the last bit of precision out of each one. In those days a navigator wasn't so much concerned with his precise location. He just wanted to know whether the course was well shaped and the sea-room sufficient. Plenty of experience taking and working observations, and in keeping the reckoning, was the best insurance. Rather than work one observation to the greatest precision it was better to check it with other observations. On the other hand, surveyors on land often did have reason to work for the last bit of accuracy. Bruce