Sussex Yacht Club

This is a course intended for students interested in the sextant and how to use it for navigation at sea. Students will need some basic navigation skills such as those from the RYA Day Skipper Course, and be able to plot latitude and longitude and measure bearing and distance on a chart.

Some simple arithmetic and chartwork will be used. The course will be partly classroom theory and partly practical sessions on a public beach a short walk away.

What the course covers

The sextant: how it works, how to check for errors and how to use it to measure angles.

• Measured angles for coastal navigation.
• Terrestrial and celestial objects.
• The nautical almanac and sight reduction tables (AP3270)
• How to prepare a "sight" and work out a position line.

By the end students should be able to check a sextant for errors, make various measurements and use the results to determine a position line at sea. After the course some students may go on to the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean course, or continue self-study to practice and better understand the sextant.

What to bring

You will need to bring a sextant to use on the day (or a friend who will let you share theirs!).  A simple training sextant will be perfectly suitable. You will also need the usual notepad and (2B grade) pencils, your favourite chart plotting instruments and ideally a chart of the eastern English Channel (Sussex coast area).  If you have almanacs, tables and books then please bring them to compare and discuss.  A packed lunch may be convenient.

Course Dates

Sunday 27th June - approx 0900-1600

Sunday 26th September - approx 0900-1600

(times to be confirmed)

Cost

Members:  £35.00

Non-Members £60.00

To Book

Download a Booking Form (you can also apply for membership using this SYC Membership Form).

Check course availability by phoning or emailing Jaqui in the office on 01273 464868 (09:00>14:00 Mon to Fri) or you can email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Read the training course Terms & Conditions.

Send booking form with course fee to: Sussex Yacht Club , 85-89 Brighton Road , Shoreham-by-sea , West Sussex , BN43 6RE