Celestial Navigation Course
Offered from our Newport location
Master the ancient art of open ocean position fixing using a sextant and timepiece. You will be able to apply your knowledge of sight reduction Methodology to reduce a sextant sight to a plotted line of positioning using any celestial body found in the Nautical Almanac.
Syllabus
6 day course
Instructor: Capt. Jeff Werner
Textbook: Starpath Celestial Navigation by David Burch
Course Structure:
6 day course; combination of webinar, indoor and outdoor classroom
Tuition: $1895pp; includes all course materials
Class size: class capped at 10
Prerequisite: US Sailing Coastal Navigation Certification
Day 1: Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Time: 0900 – 1600
Format: Webinar
I. Student-Instructor Introduction
II. Objectives of Course
III. Tools Needed for Celestial Navigation
IV. The Earth and its Coordinates
V. The Heavens and its Coordinates
VI. The History of Celestial Navigation
VII. The Sextant
VIII. The Nautical Almanac
IX. Time
X. Homework Assignment
* In preparation for the Day 1 webinar, please read Chapters 1-2
Day 2: Thursday, June 9, 2016
Time: 0900 – 1600
Format: Webinar
I. Review Homework Assignment
II. The Noon Sight for Latitude
III. Position Lines and Plotting
IV. Sun Sights
V. Homework Assignment
Day 3: Friday, June 10, 2016
Time: 0900 – 1600
Format: Webinar
I. Review Homework Assignment
II. Running Fixes (Sun-Run-Sun)
III. Sight Reduction Tables
VI. Homework Assignment
Day 4: Monday, June 13, 2016
Time: 0900 – 1600
Format: Classroom
I. Review Homework Assignment
II. Outside of Classroom: Sextant Adjustment and Taking a Noon Sight
III. Outside of Classroom: Sun Sights
IV. The Stars
V. Using the Pub. 249 Vol.1 and the Starfinder
VI. The Planets
VII. Homework Assignment
Day 5: Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Time: 1500 – 2200
Format: Classroom
I. Review Homework Assignment
II. The Moon
III. Polaris, the Pole Star
IV. Sight Reduction Form 104 Review of Differences
V. A Day’s Work of Celestial Navigation at Sea
VI. Outside of Classroom: Star Sights
VII. Outside of Classroom: Star Identification
VIII. Conclusion
Day 6: Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Time: 0900 – 1700
Format: Classroom
I. Administer US Sailing Celestial Navigation examination to students
II. Instructor grades exam
III. Review exam results with students
IV. Conclusion