Celestial Navigation
Description/Overview | Topics Covered | Course Schedule
OCSC's "Celestial Navigation" course
The ability to navigate anywhere in the world using celestial bodies is the pinnacle of seamanship skill. OCSC's Celestial Navigation course teaches you the art and science of navigating an ocean passage by heavenly bodies. Learn the principles, tools and techniques of celestial navigation, culminating in your ability to find an exact position using a sextant and the sun, stars, moon and planets. The course is 24 hours of class time and strongly emphasizes practical skills. Expect roughly 20 - 24 hours of homework in addition to class time.
Successful completion prepares you to:
- Navigate offshore using a sextant and your new skills in case your GPS fails.
- Take the Offshore Passagemaking course.
Class Information
Cost:
- Member: $317.25
- Retail: $495.00
# of students:
- 12 maximum
Boat:
- Classroom
Formats:
- Eight 3-hour sessions, once a week, for eight weeks, plus homework each week.
(24 hours of classwork.)
Prerequisites:
Coastal Navigation or equivalent experience
Good to know:
- Celestial Navigation also comes with homework each week. Be sure to budget time for the course and additional time outside of class to stay caught up with your assignments.
- This classroom course provides students with the theoretical and "best practices" underpinnings so you can develop practical skills for taking sights and using them while on a long ocean cruise.
Completion of this course makes the following available to you: Offshore Passagemaking
Topics Covered
Here are some of the things you'll learn in our Celestial Navigation course:
- Use of the sextant, the nautical almanac, H.O. 249, and sight reduction tables.
- Navigating by the sun, the planets, the stars, and the moon.
- Calculating celestial phenomena.
- Taking latitude sights.
- Working with Universal Plotting Sheets.
Schedule
Availability
This course is not currently scheduled. Please email us if you are interested or call us at 510.843.4200.