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Henry,
I bet most haven't.And you are correct.Just because something lacks
"accuracy" or an idea which goes against the conventional wisdom of
"armchair" navigation it should not just be discounted as pure bunkum.
Celestial Nav. isn't all that hard to do once one learns the basic rules and
practices it in real life situations.One can get as fancy or "into" the
finer points of it but it will still be an approximation in real life
situations.
Take,for example,how it is taught today to mariners,in various maritime
academies,who need it to upgrade or start a certain liscense.
All the acadamies and marine schools  who teach and/or certify mariners for
CN must abide by the class outline approved of by the U.S.C.G.In these
courses one doesn't have to have a grasp of any trig or higher math.The
course outlines are based on completing the whole task by knowing no more
than basic arithmatic(+,-,x,/)and being able to read and understand sight
reduction volumes.More emphysis is placed on practical sight taking
methods.Granted,some of the courses are basic,entry level stuff.But as an
officer advances in tonnage and route the tests are more involved and not
easy to pass.One has to understand all the material.To sit for and pass an
exam on anything over 1600 GT domestic with and Oceans endorcement one not
only draws on  classroom lessons but practical, real life nav. lessons as
well.One can have a great grasp on the higher math to accomplish the task
but it is not neccesary.I've known professional navigators of both bends who
had successful(no incidents)careers.
That's all anyone really needs to navigate around the world.Practical
experiance will teach more about navigating then years on the armchair.

   

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