NavList:

Hoping all are well.  I disappeared for a while after the CNAV conference because I did a foolish thing.  I purchased a larger boat for both my underwater and above water escapades.  Being a maintenance maniac and perfectionist it became an all winter contest with mother nature to bring it up to my standards, even though it was already in pretty fine order. Lots of new upgrades and TLC. My mom has also had some old age issues lately and thus I spend extra time making sure she's well looked after.

Sad to say its not a square rigger or even the nice Pearson yawl I looked at in my search...needing my CNAV prowess (or lack thereof)...but I really can't sail off into parts unknown right now....so it has those annoying hungry grumbly things under the cabin floor.... and the spoiler GPS and toys on the bridge.

I am thinking about offering a free ride to any budding celestial navigators who wish to do actual on-water sights at some point. I did these from my old rig and it taught me the value of finding a steady perch and something to lean on, bracing my body agianst the pot hauler reduced the tendency of undue wobble.

Trying Lunars from the deck of my old boat in Block Island Harbor was quite successfull, actually slightly better than those taken ashore from Trader Vic's balcony, having imbibed a few local concoctions. Of course the latter made for great conversation with other errant sailors, troubled as to why I was sitting on a chair, drinking and holding a sextant funny.... anyway..........now I want to test my Lunars on a bumpier sea.

"Syrena", my new craft, is in Noank, not far from Mystic, and can easily putt up that way, then head out Wicopessett Passage to open sea. I maintain a Master's License, have many years on the water, and run any boat with appropriate proffessionalism. 

I also wanted to let everyone know I am futzing about with following up on my "Ode to Celestial Navigation" (I was honored by it appearing in the Celestaire catalog)  with a Poem about us Lunarians.  As in the Ode to Celestial Navigation, thinking about poking a little fun and highlighting historical stuff. It hasn't found its cadence yet...but working on it... going to start my returning to CNAV studies with a review of Frank's class notes on Lunars, which I highly recommend.  That class was both extremely interesting, historically entertaining, and gave me a different view of Lunars....less intimidating and easily within the skill of most any determined person who wishes to learn them.

Anyway, glad to be back..

MC

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