NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: sextant without paper charts
From: Robert Eno
Date: 2008 Oct 31, 10:52 -0400
From: Robert Eno
Date: 2008 Oct 31, 10:52 -0400
Frank (I think) wrote: "...so to me it would make sense to teach the tables in the Nautical Almanac, rather than HO229, for that very improbable emergency but definitely possible emergency where you need to navigate by sextant and stars..." Robert comments, Have to disagree with you on this one Frank. I have spent a lot of time noodling around with the SR tables in the Nautical Almanac and in my humble opinion, they are far too convoluted and complex and therefore does not lend itself to emergency situations where everyone is stressed out and already liable to make mistakes. Years ago, I spent the summer at a field camp and at night when I was on watch, I would spend hours trying to master these tables. Even after I had gotten my head wrapped around them, I continued to make silly mistakes; mostly transpositional errors. The tables involve way too many steps and way too many transpositions with attendent and virtually infinate possibilities for stupid mistakes; which in turn, brings the whole house of cards down. Nothing against Admiral Davies, who, I understand, developed these tables, but keep in mind that Davies was a brilliant man. Most of the rest of humanity are not so cerebrally endowed. If I were to choose an emergency method, I would opt for Ageton's tables. The "forbidden zone" nothwithstanding, these tables are very simple, relatively accurate and very easy to master. Very easy to master. But at the end of the day, it seems to me that HO 249 is the way to go. Two volumes and you can go anywhere. Another two bits' from the Nav List cheap seats. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Navigation List archive: www.fer3.com/arc To post, email NavList@fer3.com To , email NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---