NavList:

Hi David,

Thank you very much for your reply. You mentioned "RYA Astro Navigation Handbook" by Tim Bartlett. Yes, I remember that title! And it turns out the reason I remember it specifically is because I have a PDF copy of it from some years ago. The book is protected by copyright, published in 2009 (yikes, seventeen years ago), so I won't upload the file to our archives here.

The book is clear and basic. I notice that right away it focuses on things that are pointless, like the vernier on the micrometer and also side error, but those are completely common obsessions in other 21st century celestial navigation resources. I have not read much further in the book...

You also quoted from the amazon catalog description:
   "This handbook is the official course book for the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course, making it an essential resource for students and ocean sailors alike. Inside, readers will find straightforward explanations and guidance on key astro-navigation topics, including:

• The sextant
• The celestial sphere
• The noon sight
• Morning and afternoon sights
• Planets
• Polaris    "

Yes, it appears that this is nearly the complete table of contents. I have to wonder if this book is really all there is for the "official course book for the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course". It's not much of a book.

Frank Reed

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