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This might be better suited to "alt.culture.sextant"
or somesuch. If it's not really a topic for here I
apologise.

It seems to me that sextant navigation has an
aesthetic component to it. That the use of the
instrument, the feel and look of the instrument and
the "directness" of sighting on an object and getting
a position line are part of an aesthetic which
provides some of the motivation for at least some of
us to continue to do this.

In photography the closest analogue I can identify is
with people who use Leica rangefinder cameras. The
look, feel and functionality of these cameras,
together with the connection to history and the way
they dictate picture taking are all part of the reason
people use them. There's not much difference between
the first Leica rangefinder in the 20s and a 2005
model. Not to mention the mystique of these cameras.

Any rational person would probably use something with
lots of LEDs, LCDs and buttons and batteries. Quite a
large number of people don't however and they feel
very passionate about not using such instruments.

The same applies to sextants and GPS units. It's a bit
hard to feel much for a GPS unit but I'm sure many of
us feel something for our sextants.

Are sextant navigators also Leica rangefinder users?
Is there an aesthetic that is part of our attachment
to this art/craft/science? Are we luddites who insist
on "Mechanical Perfection" as opposed to "electronic
mysticism"? Or are we all just pragmatic navigators.

I'd be interested in your responses. And you can no
doubt see that I have too much time on my hands this
morning.

Now really to the boat this beautiful morning.

Regards

Mike



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