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This is a course in celestial navigation. Many students may be under the impression that the need for the sextant has long gone in the age of GPS. Whilst it will never again be the primary means of ocean navigation that it once was (until recently), it will long continue to be a very important backup. A fundamental principle of navigation is that one never relies solely on one source of positioning information. Over large parts of the globe the sextant is the only reliable backup to GPS. Celestial navigation is considered by the MCA to be an essential part of the yacht master’s training in obtaining an unrestricted certificate of competence.
Candidates for MCA Ocean certificates must attend the Ocean theory course. Some pre course reading from any standard YM Ocean textbook will benefit the student.
In addition to a course completion certificate from this course candidates must plan and execute a qualifying passage’ of at least 600nm. They must also carry out practical sights at sea and then present themselves for oral examination to an RYA examiner. We can arrange for candidates who have already done a passage plan to take their sights and to do the oral exam with anRYA Ocean examiner which will include a narrative account of a passage plan / execution, a Sun Run, a Meridian passage and a compass check.
Entry Requirements:
Candidates must have been issued a Yachtmaster Offshore certificate before an Ocean Certificate can be issued but this is NOT a prerequisite for attending the theory course.
Brief Syllabus
Earth and Celestial Sphere
The PZX Triangle
The Sextant
Time
Merpass
Sun sights
Planet Sights
Star sight planning
Star sights
Polaris
Moon sights
Compass checking
Satellite Navigation Systems
Great Circle sailing
Ocean meteorology
Ocean passage planning
Duration : 5 Days
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