NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Joshua Slocum's navigational methods
From: Peter Fogg
Date: 2005 Apr 17, 09:48 +1000
From: Peter Fogg
Date: 2005 Apr 17, 09:48 +1000
But the fact that he was an experienced ship's captain (more than usually resourceful, too) PLUS the fact that he was remarkably casual about having correct time (not being much concerned when the minute hand fell off his cheap clock) would seem to be indications that he had an independent trick up his sleeve - being long professional experience with lunars? As to the lack of mention, most of us would have some professional skill that we are familiar with but which might be baffling to the general public. So we normally don't go into it in any excruciating detail, or harp upon it. We might mention it once, or in passing. For example. I would have thought his 'earlier commercial voyages' are more than a little relevant when it comes to analyzing his yacht cruise. One of the ways his book is different to so many that follow is the relaxed attitude - nothing seems to have fazed him. But then it wasn't so new, he had had so many adventures before. This was, by comparison, a pleasure cruise... ________________________________________ From: Frank R Sent: Sunday, 17 April 2005 9:18 AM To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM Subject: Re: Joshua Slocum's navigational methods Dan H, you wrote: "Since Slocum was an experienced see Captain of many years, and based on his writings. I would say he used Lunars more than once in his voyage." I think it's important to distinguish Slocum's circumnavigation from his earlier commercial voyages. The risk, whatever it may have been, was entirely his own when he was sailing around the world. He had no schedule to keep, no cargo to deliver, no crew to keep safe and secure...
