The Wonders of Navigation.

[John Arton]

Hello
I was up in my loft last night getting my Hornby trainset and Scalectrix down as I have eventually been persuaded to give them to the Hospice my eldest daughter works at, all the other halves in the family say I am too old to play with them anyway yet it was them that brought me the train set etc!
Whilst searching for all the boxes I came across an forgotten treasure trove, all my old Sight Books and Courses and Distance books from my 3rd and 2nd Mates days. These give a record of every voyage I made giving courses and distances between all the ports and also in the sight books the noon positions.
All worked out by Marc St. Helair, Rhumb Line and Great Circle sailing routes.
I was up there that long that the family thought I had fallen asleep!,
Now I wonder in this day and age if any of todays 2nd Mates (or who ever does the courses and distances or Voyage Planning to give it its modern title) ever bother to keep their own personal records of courses and distances etc. given that Electronic Charts, Computers etc. have all taken over the long handed methods of working out the course and distance between two ports and should the electronics fail who on board these days could still work out celestial sights, rhumb line or great circle routes...
makes you think does'nt it.
rgds
Capt. John Arton (ret'd)

[Captain Kong]

Hi John
I still have my old sight book and with courses and distances etc. in.
It brings back a few memories when I look at it.
with my Nichols Concise Guide, Browns Nautical Almanac, Two Ship Captains Medical Guide, Basic Principles of Marine Navigation, by D.A. Moore, a Norries Tables. and an original copy of Fanny Hill.
That should help me to find my way home from the Club on a Starry night,
Cheers
Brian.

[Capt Bill Davies]

Hello

Now I wonder in this day and age if any of todays 2nd Mates (or who ever does the courses and distances or Voyage Planning to give it its modern title) ever bother to keep their own personal records of courses and distances etc. given that Electronic Charts, Computers etc. have all taken over the long handed methods of working out the course and distance between two ports and should the electronics fail who on board these days could still work out celestial sights, rhumb line or great circle routes...
makes you think does'nt it.
rgds
Capt. John Arton (ret'd)

I very much doubt it John! There may be a few professional Second Mates around of the old school but they will be few and far between.

And Brian, I see you were a Norie's man. Interesting in that people seem to adopt the Tables favoured by the company you served yours time in or those favoured by your peers in ships you were in prior to going up for Second Mates . I actually liked Burton's but then I think all three of us will agree that tables , like the sextant is a very personal thing.

Brgds

Bill

[happy daze john in oz]

Hi John
I still have my old site book and with courses and distances etc. in.
It brings back a few memories when I look at it.
with my Nichols Concise Guide, Browns Nautical Almanac, Two Ship Captains Medical Guide, Basic Principles of Marine Navigation, by D.A. Moore, a Norries Tables. and an original copy of Fanny Hill.
That should help me to find my way home from the Club on a Starry night,
Cheers
Brian.

I never kne Fanny Hill was capable of giving directions!

[Ivan Cloherty]

I never kne Fanny Hill was capable of giving directions!

John it gave directions of how to anchor in the lee of Bum Island and then travel north from Mount Venus to the twin hills of the land of milk and honey. One of the best guide books ever written.

[Capt Bill Davies]

Ivan, what are we going to do with you corrupting the innocents on this site.

An Our Father and 10 Hail Mary's.

Bill

[Graham Payne]

Ivan
I'm only 64 years and 9 months old
I am open to any corruption available, If I am able to enjoy it is a different matter
Please keep trying though as I am one of the younger members of this site
No offence to the Elderly Members but I don't want to be nicked by the "Tony & Cheri" PC brigade for
Ageism

[Ivan Cloherty]

Ivan
I'm only 64 years and 9 months old
I am open to any corruption available, If I am able to enjoy it is a different matter
Please keep trying though as I am one of the younger members of this site
No offence to the Elderly Members but I don't want to be nicked by the "Tony & Cheri" PC brigade for
Ageism

Hi Graham

when you get to my age we start to live in a fantasy world, showing that there is nothing wrong with our memories, and aren't they great !Don't know about the physical side as the wife says I can look at the menu but there will be bloody trouble if I start to eat.

There's no such thing as "Ageism" on this site, we are all young

[Captain Kong]

You are only as old as the woman you feel.
.
. Have I got that right???

[Neville Roberts]

listening too all you navigators,makes me remember the only navigation I ever had was how too get too the pig and back too our cabin,even then it was some of a challenge somtimes,