The Lost Art of Dead Reckoning
August 14, 2020
For all the precision of modern technology, sometimes there’s no substitute for the tried-and-true art of dead reckoning.
For all the precision of modern technology, sometimes there’s no substitute for the tried-and-true art of dead reckoning.
Take a stroll down the memory lane of navigation. Many years ago, during what often seems like another lifetime, it was my job as a U.S. Merchant Marine officer to shoot a couple sun sights a day with a sextant, weather permitting. The task was a pleasure, really. It called for a set of physical skills that a guy like me could first learn, then practice, and then finally master in an almost artsy, albeit seriously practical way.
The crew of Celt, a Nordhavn 43, explore Australia and Indonesia on their multiyear circumnavigation.
All the right things, in all the right places.
Bearings from the Editor’s Desk
Devising a safe, easy way to get our dog on shore from an anchorage required some innovation.
Before you go to sea, know how to access telehealth services, acquire medication refills and get medical care.
Planning for loss of steering and engine control requires familiarity, not new equipment.
A set layout is paired with an impressive list of standard equipment on a proven hull design.
When you can’t go any faster or slower, there are other options to help you arrive safely.
Let’s bring back these nautical words and terms. They’re better than the way we communicate today.
Once a rescue craft, this Norway-built steel trawler is the ticket to ride for a venturesome crew.
