Online Introduction to Celestial Navigation
To register your interest, please complete the expression of interest form.
I also offer courses for small private groups of friends, or one-to-one session.
Expression of Interest
Embark on your journey into the timeless art of celestial navigation with this online course. Designed for sailors, adventurers and enthusiasts, an introduction to those who are new to celestial navigation, refresher for returners and for those who want to prepare for the RYA Ocean course. This course will introduce you to the fundamental concepts of celestial navigation in a series of six, three-hour sessions.
An introductory workbook (pdf) is included to guide your practice, provide exercises and reinforce your learning.
By the end of this course, you’ll have the knowledge to begin to take your first steps towards celestial navigation.
This course is not assessment or exam-driven. The emphasis is on understanding the process, developing good working habits and building confidence through guided practice and discussion. It is designed to prepare students for further study, including the RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Theory course.
Six, three-hour sessions: A maximum of eight in each class.
Session 1 – Introduction and Key Concepts of Celestial Navigation – Understand the principles behind using the Sun, to determine your position at sea.
Session 2 – Introduction to the Sextant – How it works, what it measures and why.
Session 3 – Meridian Passage – Discover how to determine ‘local noon’ and use it for latitude calculation.
Session 4 – Sun Sight Reductions – Practice converting celestial observations into meaningful navigation data.
Session 5 – Plotting – Learn how to plot your lines of positions on plotting sheets.
Session 6 – Sun-run-Sun – Brining it all together with a day of sun sights and dead reckoning plotting and transferring position lines.
An introductory workbook (PDF) is included with the course with worked examples and practice exercises
Homework between sessions is encouraged to consolidate learning and build confidence.
Listen to JoJo talking to Andy Schell about teaching Celestial Navigation.
Who this course is for:
- Anyone interested to start their Celestial Navigation journey.
- Preparation for sailors planning to take the RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Theory.
- Navigators seeking a refresher.
Participants should have a good understanding of traditional navigation:
- Dead Reckoning (DR)
- Estimated Position (EP)
- Running Fix
What you will need:
Pencil and eraser, dividers and plotter, a printer and good internet access.
Cost of the Course
£300
Register Your Interest
To register your interest, please complete the expression of interest form.
I also offer courses for small private groups of friends, or one-to-one session.
Expression of Interest
Places are limited and allocated on a first-come basis.
Once your form has been received, I will confirm availability and send further details by email.
If you have any questions before booking, please feel free to get in touch.
I look forward to welcoming you to the course and sharing my passion for sailing and navigation.