Online Celestial Navigation Course

[Cruisingoneday]

Hello all

I am relatively new to the sailing world and have just recently begun my sailing adventure. As my name suggests, this is all for preparation in going cruising one day and perhaps a circumnavigation in a few years.

I have taken a 5 day US Sail Keel course as well as an ISPA Competent Crew, Day Skipper and Coastal Navigation liveaboard class.

I am looking to take an online celestial navigation course next. Can anyone recommend a good site or course?

Thanks
Barry

[boasun]

Go to either Starpath or Celestaire for home study navigation course.

[rebel heart]

Good on you for looking past your chart plotter.

[Cruisingoneday]

Thanks all ...ordered the Starpath online course.

I will report back how it was..

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Barry.

This is a FREE online course on marine navigation
➥ Advanced navigation courses - sailing schools Greece and the Greek islands

[Robotzart]

This great app on ipad shows you all about stars,moon,sun,planets "goskywatch" includes position and compass

[ljsailing]

I have completed several Starpath courses, and found them very thorough. Subsequent support during and after completion of the course is always available. Good scope and sequence.

[Turtle Moon]

@Cruisingoneday How did the Starpath Celestial Navigation class work for you?

[Teknav]

Why would anyone take a celestial navigation course is beyond me; there is a gizmo called GPS which does not require you to use inclination tables or adjustments yet will accurately give you your longitude and lattitude with the push of a button. On the other hand, some folks still like to use the Abacus rather than a cheap calculator. And, yet others like to ride a donkey to work, while talking on a cell phone at the same time. If you cannot see any correlation to what I just said, you are a very rare happy person. Mauritz

[minaret]

I have taken several Starpath courses as well. I'm fortunate enough to live near the actual school and was able to take classes there instead of online. Highly recommended. Take the Coastal Navigation and Piloting course before taking Celestial Nav. Priceless.

[Turtle Moon]

Thanks Minaret. I do have experience with coastal navigation. I have studied on my own over the years for fun and for sailing and kayaking voyages. Currently reviewing US Sailing Coastal Navigation and plan to take the certification test without the class. I'm imagining that will be sufficient preparation. You think so?

[terminalcitygrl]

We are totally going to check out that course, thanks for the heads up and recommendations!

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Turtle Moon

Thanks Minaret. I do have experience with coastal navigation. I have studied on my own over the years for fun and for sailing and kayaking voyages. Currently reviewing US Sailing Coastal Navigation and plan to take the certification test without the class. I'm imagining that will be sufficient preparation. You think so?

Never taken that course so I'd be the wrong guy to ask. I imagine they are similar though. I think this sort of course could benefit the great majority of boaters out there. Even after many years of boating, Starpaths Coastal course was a real eye opener for me. That was some years back, and I find I've really built on the skills and concepts I learned there.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by terminalcitygrl

We are totally going to check out that course, thanks for the heads up and recommendations!

You should most definitely sign up if you are interested in that sort of thing. I don't know about online, but their instructors are great. I still keep and occasionally reread my textbooks.

[jeremiason]

Barry

The Basic Keelboat course was a good start to starting you sailing life... It gives you basic fundimentals in sailing and shows you which way is north on the chart.

You should conitue your education and build up experience sailing with friends or on your own boat.

New sailors always look to the old ways of the sea as being really cool...

The fact is that Celestial Navigation is a skill that diminishes, unless practiced daily you could be tens or hundreds of miles off. You also need to have a good knowledge of navigation before using this skill.

In my opinion your are jumping a from bicycle training wheels to a Harley Davidson.

Before you start with Celestial Navigation you should take some courses (On Lne or Classroom) on Navigation. Learn how to plot course, make routes and calculate set and drift.

Then, if you still want to try Celestial Navigation, your position will mean something more than a dot on the chart.

Also as someone else stated, GPS provides acurrate position information at a touch of a button. Handheld GPS's are relatively cheap in boat dollars and having a couple in your sea bag or boat will make al the difference in the world.

I am sure some "Old Salts" will flame me for this, but in my opinion and the the opinion of US Navy, which no longer requires it for graduation at the US Naval Academy, Celestial Navigation is an old tool with little value, especially compared to modern naviational tools.