NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Nav Exercise #4- Amplitude of the Sun
From: Jeremy C
Date: 2008 May 26, 00:59 EDT
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From: Jeremy C
Date: 2008 May 26, 00:59 EDT
Although electronic self-steering systems as found on modern yachts
(don't know about big ships) can do just this. I remember sailing
(with other crew) downwind on a largish yacht into a crowded harbour,
full of those pesky sailing boats, us under spinnaker, no hand on the helm,
making direction changes as tiny variations in wind dictated by pressing
the appropriate button on Igor the Autohelm to alter course by one tenth of
a degree at a time. It worked very well, holding that tricky point of
sail, we all agreed, much better than any of us could have done
manually.
I should be more clear, I can "set" my autopilot to 1/10th of a degree,
but with yaw, it cannot hold this level of accuracy except in dead calm
weather. I agree, our "Iron Mike" can do a better job of steering then
most any person, we do not think that we can steer a course with better then 1
degree accuracy any length of time, especially at sea; we just don't have that
kind of lateral stability.
Jeremy
Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.
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Navigation List archive: www.fer3.com/arc
To post, email NavList@fer3.com
To , email NavList-@fer3.com
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