Celestial Navigation by the Books...

Passages where navigation was done principally via Celestial Navigation are done by many. Here are a few that I have come across and read...

- Across Islands and Oceans by James Baldwin
- Alone Together (Sailing Solo to Hawaii and Beyond) by Christian Williams
- Around the World Single Handed: The Cruise of the "Islander" - Harry Pidgeon
- Bound for Distant Seas by James Baldwin
- Cape Horn: The Logical Route by Bernard Moitessier
- Dove by Robin Lee Graham
- Fourteen by Leslie Johansen Nack
- Gypsy Moth Circles the World - Francis Chichester, Jonathan Raban
- Once Is Enough - Miles Smeeton
- Sailing Alone Around the World by Captain Joshua Slocum
- Sextant (A Young Man's Daring Sea Voyage and the Men Who Mapped the World's Oceans) by     David Barrie
- The Last Sunrise by Richard Brumer
- The Long Way by Bernard Moitessier

Problems Encountered

The term 'stuff happens' can be applied to all sailors. Over the past few years i have had my own share of problems, minor for the most part - can only say that some have been more annoying than anything, and if that is as bad as it will ever get - no problem.

Here is what's happened...

- fell in the water at HCSP
- lost winch handle in Toronto Harbour
- slipped at the foredeck outside Bamfield
- lost engine transmission cable off Broken Group
- slight tear on mainsail off Broken Group
- reefing lines around boom tearing out grommets on loose footed sail at NYC
- lost engine at NYC
- lost engine at HYC
- ran aground at ABYC
- ran aground at HYC
- anchor chain became stuck in well at Bull Harbour
- no compass night light into Campbell River
- couldn't raise anchor rode at Bamfield
- engine key improperly set at Winter Harbour
- accidental gybe on 3rd Day Skipper course on Moreton Bay
- accidental gybe outside Belleville
- almost didn't stay off east end of Toronto Harbour wall
- lost reverse on transmission in Goletas Channel
- blew engine on Haywire after impellor went
- blew gasket on block of Sionnean

The First Time I Saw This...

I thought at first it was a whoppee cushion, then in humour I proposed that it was a sitting device in the aid of hemorrhoids - then someone clued me in on what it is really used for!!!

Every big boat should have one.