Conference unifix::sailing

    Don Treworgy down at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut offers 
    courses on celestial navigation.  I can't remember exactly how much
    each course is, although I think it was a pretty hefty amount, and
    I think that you need to live reasonably near the Seaport because most
    courses are taught on a weekly basis.  The Museum's phone number is
    (203) 572-0711; ask either for Don or the planetarium.
    
    Using a sextant isn't hard at all, but understanding what the sextant
    tells you is something else entirely.  All I know is:  True virgins
    make dull company; add whisky.  ;-)  Good luck!
    
    Scarlet

I had a friend at work (Honeywell, Billerica MA, now retired) whose main hobby
was celestial navigation. He used to take his sextant and stop watches on
cruises when he went on vacation and compare his calculations with those of the
sophisticated computerized equipment on the cruise ship. Anyway, he had
programmed his HP calculator with all of the necessary equations, and then some.
He had even gone so far as to develop new techniques for taking running fixes
which he published in the proceedings of whatever national association for
navigation that he belonged to. 

I don't know if he is still involved but if you live in his neighborhood, you
might look him up and give him a call. He may be able to direct you to the
appropriate classes, etc. His name is Ed Mathews and he lives in Boxboro MA. 

Dave

At some point the Boston Museum of Science had courses in Celestial Navigation.
I bet they still do.

The Boston Harbour Sailing Club offers a 2 day (whole weekend) celestial
navigation course and can give an ASA Celestial Navigation cert.  The course
is about $150 (not including any ASA exam or cert.)

How about the USCG Auxiliary or Power Squadrons?  They should have courses too
I'd think.

The final alternative is self-study.  Get a good book (just go down to
Nautical Needs or Boxelles and brouse) and an artificial horizon and find the
position of your house using the sun (initially) and other bodies several
times over several days.  When it stops moving, you have mastered the art :-)

F.

    A sextant is just one of a set of things you need in order to
    find your position. They are:
    1. The sextant.
    2. An accurate timepiece. 
    3. A nautical Almanac (e. g. Reeds)
    4. A calculator with trig functions or an appropriate set of tables.
    5. Two clearly visible celestial bodies and a clear horizon.
    
    There are a number of books that explain how to put this all
    together to find a position. Many of them are very pedantic.
    My own favorite is Celestial Navigation (I think that's the title),
    by Letcher. It's short and concise and relatively easy to read.
    
    Stan

    Thanks for the replies (and the mail).  I went out last night and
    brought bodies down before the mosquitoes brought me down and basically
    messed around.  I know I need a few other things in order take any real
    sights for plotting my house etc.  Just another great excuse to use to
    go boat stuff shopping!  The other good news (for me) is the frau has
    expressed an interest in learning how to use it also so we will
    probably bumble through the learning process together.  After that I
    may be able to read the other half of Ocean Navigator and actually make
    sense out of it.  I called the folks at Celestaire and they were real
    pleasant if not a little surprised to here how I got my unit.  They are
    supposedly the sole importers for the Astra IIIb.  After all was said,
    they were happy to pop a set of English instructions (along with a
    catalog of course) in the mail for me.  They also offered to help with
    any problems I may have that requires dealing with the factory.  Highly
    recommended so far.  For anyone interested their number is 800-727-9785.  
    They are located in Wichita Kansas, USA.   
    
    Brian

The Rockport Apprenticeshop is offering a week-long celestial course this 
July (the last week, I recall), for only $75.  A very pleasant place, 
pace, and people, if you have the time and inclination (or is it 
declination?) to spend it there.

J.

    I recommend two books that are useful if you want to try the self help
    approach. The first one is a short traditional explanation of the
    concepts involved in celestial navigation and has been around for
    years. It's called:
    
    	  Celestial Navigation For Yachtsmen
    		 		 by Mary Blewitt.
    
    The second book falls into the "Never mind how it works, just do it 
    this way" category. It's called:
    
    	A Star to Steer Her By
    				by Edward J. Bergin
    
    Both of these books are useful and will help to explain the methods and 
    materials needed to cross oceans.
    
    Good luck
     

    After getting side tracked for awhile with other pursuits I finally
    found a place for celestial instruction.  There is an individual in
    Princeton, MA that has offered private instruction using H.O. 229 for
    the past several years.  My ex-partner used to teach this course with
    him.  6 weekly sessions for $75.00 starting in February/March.  The
    classes are small, 6-10 people and informal.  It is also strategically
    located near my house which is of even greater benefit.  The person
    teaching the course is Dr. John Gardner.  If anyone else is interested,
    I can post the number (don't have it handy).  Can't vouch for the
    quality of the instruction but the recommendation he received from my
    partner is enough for me.  Thanks all for the previous suggestions. 
    
    Brian

    I have taken the "6-week Celestial Navigation" extravaganza a few
    years ago, (in '84)  and need a "refresh".
    
    Where will you have this course?  
    
    Frank
     

    I received the info in the mail for the course in Princeton yesterday. 
    It will be held for 6 weeks starting in February, do not know which
    night yet.  Dr. R. John Groves will be the instructor using H.O.229. 
    His practice is in Worcester but the course will be held in hos home in
    Princeton.  If interested, he must be contacted before January 15th.  
    His office number is 508-754-4299.  I also have his home number but
    will not share that here because it is unlisted.  Please send me mail 
    if there is interest.  
    
    Brian

	Another source, which i'd highly recommend, is the Boston Museum of
	science, Hayden Planetarium. They display the navigational triangle
	right there above your head.

	paul

    Quick update on the course in Princeton.  It will be held Wednesday
    evenings beginning Feb. 12th and for the following 5 weeks, six
    sessions in all.  I believe there are a few spots open still though he
    had the 6 minimum the other day.  
    
    Brian  

Is he going to be in Massachusetts or New Jersey or somewhere else?

    Princeton MA. 
    
    

    Well, the course is over and overall I am quite satisfied.  Mr. Brodeur
    was the only other Digital person in the class, the majority of the
    folks were local friends of the good Doctor's.  We went into some
    detail on the history of celestial navigation which made it more
    interesting to me.  It was not a cook book course by any stretch.  
    
    We used H.O 229 for sight reductions.  All of the different celestial 
    bodies were covered, Sun, Moon, planets and selected stars.  We also
    covered sextant mechanics and history as well as adjustments.  I found
    that I had significant side and index error which I was able to correct
    Saturday.  I had an index error approaching 35' which is a lot.  
    
    The last day we were able to do a morning sun sight and then a noon
    passage.  There were three of us and one artificial horizon which made
    it sort of difficult to work through.  The glass also kept fogging up
    since it was so cold and the sun was very bright.  I did manage to
    verify that Doctor Grove's house has moved only slightly though :-).  
    
    All in all I am pleased with the course.  I do not believe he will be
    conducting it next year though.  To gain proficiency, I will most
    likely retake a course next Fall if the opportunity to practice often 
    does not present itself.  So if anyone is in need of a novice
    naviguesser, I'm in ELF.  
    
    Brian

>    it sort of difficult to work through.  The glass also kept fogging up
>    since it was so cold and the sun was very bright.  I did manage to

Try using Wesson oil (or something similar) instead of water in the artificial
horizon. It won't cause fogging, and is also much less sensitive to movement.

 - Ken