Celestial Navigation

If anyone is seriously interested in studying this course and is willing to make the commitment of at least a full years work to achieve success please email the Commander (pmjames@telus.net) or phone 250-830-1726.

Prerequisites are Advanced Piloting, access to a reliable marine sextant, and a serious commitment to do a lot of hard work to complete the course. The student has to teach him/her self and the tutor is there for guidance.

An introductory meeting will be held to review guidelines and expectations and make sure everyone is conversant with the program and effort required for completion. Only after the instructor gets a good sense of commitment would we move on to registration.

The Squadron will facilitate the course with guidance from the instructor. We would meet or communicate regularly where he would provide lectures and tutorials on material that he sees as requiring further input than the supplied material affords. The meetings will be determined by consensus.

Besides the textbook work, there are also sights that need to be taken and reduced. There will be a parallel program that starts with star identification and moves onto taking the sights. The student will also require a sextant, or the use of one; a current-year Nautical Almanac, a USPS Star Finder and a scientific, hand held calculator with a trigonometric capability.

Instructors are hesitant to commit the time when the students do not appear committed. The attrition rate on this course is extremely high. If you are serious about completing the course, this is your opportunity.

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