
NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: USCGA celestial nav class
From: Jim Dullea
Date: 2003 Jan 29, 15:08 -0500
From: Jim Dullea
Date: 2003 Jan 29, 15:08 -0500
On the topic I took the Starpath home version of celestial and thought it very well done. For those not easily able to get to a power Squadron or ASA location StarPath will coordinate a proctored exam anywhere to achieve ASA celestial certification for those interested. Separate but related topic. It seems that we are bound and determined to validate using celestial as the backup for GPS and/or LORAN etc following terrorist jamming, war, lightening strike, alien invasion, suspension of the laws of physics or some calamity... It always becomes a taste great less filling argument between the "modern" digital electronics supporters (I can buy 5 handheld battery GPS for the price of a sextant) and the "never met an electron I could trust in a jam" crowd. Maybe celestial isn't really a cost effective solution to any realistic casualty. I suggest we are drawn to it for the simple elegance of using a finely crafted mechanical instrument to do what seems mysterious...determine our position without outside help based on skill and practice, and to, in a small way retain contact with the rich history of navigation at sea. I have to admit when querried why I spend time on celestial I now simply say because it gives me great pleasure, a sense of accomplishment, and allows me to have a greater appreciation for the "art" of navigation. And if some day sitting in my darkened, powerless boat in the middle of the ocean it helps show the way home...well then I guess I'll just be amazed what an astute seaman I am. Jim Dullea -----Original Message----- From: Navigation Mailing List [mailto:NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM] On Behalf Of Cliff Sojourner Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 2:04 PM To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM Subject: Re: USCGA celestial nav class the USCG Aux had long stopped giving the celnav class when I took their coastal nav class, in March 1991 according to my certificate on the wall... FWIW, in March 2001 I took the "Introduction to Celestial Navigation" class from Ocean Navigator School of Seamanship. instructor (Andy Howe) was excellent, materials were good for both teaching and reference, and lately the occasional refresher. and the catering from Greens Restaurant in San Francisco was excellent! -- these are the good old days Cliff Sojourner cls@employees.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Istok"To: Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 02:40 Subject: Re: Hello from new member > For what it is worth, it seems that the Coast Guard and the Auxillary no > longer have a course in celestial navigation. Granted it is old technology, > but someone needs to know how to get home when the GPS quits working. > > > George Istok > > -----Original Message----- > On Behalf Of Smith_Peter@EMC.COM > Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 10:22 AM > > It's clear that traditional surveying and navigation have much in > common: trigonometry, interesting instruments, being steamrolled > by GPS. >