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On 9/3/2013 2:28 PM, Greg Rudzinski wrote:
> My favorite reply to the curious is to say that this is a sextant which
> is nothing more than a fancy protractor.

During a presentation at Strictly Sail in Chicago (blackboard, no PP)
Ken G. spoke to the question. Someone came up to his booth, picked up a
sextant, held it upside down, and asked what it was. Ken gave him the
cel nav spiel and watched his eyes glaze over. Ken decided the best
answer is, "It measures angles."

That is the answer I now use. From there continue on slowly as long as
there seems to be interest or questions. I will usually start the angle
of a heavenly body to the horizon to determine position. Then Ken's
explanation that the sun is always over some point on earth, and if a
flagpole cast no shadow and you know the sun's position, that is where
you are. That does ignores uses for coastwise piloting, but what the heck.

Tough to beat the polished explanation of someone who sells 1200
sextants a year, often face to face.

Bill B

   

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