Introduction to Celestial Navigation
Marion Bermuda Race & Ocean Navigator School of Seamanship
Presented By: Marion Bermuda Race & Ocean Navigator School of Seamanship
Where: Sippican Women’s Club in Marion, MA
Date: To Be Determined
Time: To Be Determined
Cost: $295 per student, $450 per couple (payable by April 10th by check or credit card) Navigators under the age of 19 may attend for half-price.
Instructor: Tim Queeney, Editor of Ocean Navigator
This seminar is a hands-on course covering basic celestial theory, sight reduction of sun, moon, planets, stars and specialty sights such as the noon sun sight and latitude by Polaris.
The class covers related topics such as time and time zones, sight planning, sextant accessories and offshore navigation plotting techniques, especially dead reckoning. Practical plotting of each kind of sight, as well as celestial running fixes, is covered in detail.
Sextant use is discussed during one session but no sights actually are taken during the class. The emphasis is on practical use of celestial navigation, with plenty of pencil and paperwork. (Up to a dozen sights are reduced and plotted during the weekend, with numerous additional exercises using H.O. 249 and H.O. 229 in conjunction with the Nautical Almanac.)
Students will find the Introduction to Celestial Navigation seminar to be a comprehensive, yet fast-paced, celestial navigation course. Over the past dozen years, alumni have navigated in Marion-Bermuda Races (even won on occasion!) and have made numerous celestial-only ocean crossings.
A review of basic navigation concepts such as chart work, plotting, true to magnetic course conversion, DR, time/speed/distance, etc. is recommended.
Students should bring to class: (1) Current Nautical Almanac (either blue or orange version), (2) Volume 2 of H.O. 249 (Volume 1 H.O. 229 is optional), (3) parallel rules and dividers. The Sippican Women’s Club is located on Front Street near Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass. Course hours are to be detereminded. Your instructor is Tim Queeney, Editor of Ocean Navigator.
For more information or to reserve your spot, please contact Dave Jackson at [email protected] or call (cell) 207-542-5801 (Telephone) 207-236-7014.