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    Re: Navigation and whaling
    From: Geoffrey Kolbe
    Date: 2009 Feb 17, 07:09 +0000

    Is there a perception problem here on what is considered a "good navigator"?
    
    These days, a "good navigator" is perceived to be someone who has a good
    working knowledge of celestial navigation. Even though (s)he will use some
    form of electronic navigation as the main means of navigation -- (s)he
    would be foolish not to -- the sextant and tables will the there "in case
    of an emergency" and the use of them will be regularly practiced.
    Never-the-less, such a navigator yearns for the good old days when keeping
    one's self found depended on the personal skills of using sextant, tables
    and chronometer.
    
    Back in the 19th century, I have a suspicion that a "good navigator" was
    also someone who used the latest tools and methods of celestial navigation
    -- because they would be foolish not to. Never-the-less, such a navigator
    actually thought that a good navigator was someone who did not need the
    tools of the 'new navigation' and the true art of the navigator was to know
    his position from dead reckoning alone.
    
    Joshua Slocum is often cited as a great navigator, sailing his little boat
    'Spray' around the world in the 1890s. However, his book "Sailing alone
    around the world" is nothing less than a celebration of the art of dead
    reckoning and it is clear that Slocum thought that a "good navigator"
    should not need to resort to celestial fixes to keep himself found. Even
    the much vaunted single mention of a lunar sighting was done from boredom
    rather than necessity. His alarm clock with its missing minute hand was
    clearly a parody of the chronometer he would be expected to have.
    
    When we look for evidence of "careful navigation" in the log books of mid
    nineteenth century sailing ships, are we looking for what we would consider
    "careful navigation" or what they considered adequate?
    
    Geoffrey Kolbe
    
    In [7337] Brad Morris wrote:
    >
    >
    >Argument Side One:  The log books present are not representative of all
    >sailing whaling voyages.
    >
    >Argument Side Two: All log books show careful navigation.
    
    
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