Navigation of Small Yachts

Master the Art of Not Getting Lost: The Navigation of Small Yachts

Are you tired of navigation manuals that feel like they were written for the bridge of a battleship rather than the cockpit of a "reeling yacht"? Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a motor-cruiser enthusiast, The Navigation of Small Yachts by Lieut.-Commander John Irving, R.N., is the practical, "no-fluff" guide you’ve been waiting for.

This isn't just another dry treatise. It’s a specialized manual written by a cruising yachtsman, for cruising yachtsmen. Irving understands that your navigation is recreation, not a life-work, and he’s stripped away the mathematical "proofs of formula" that you probably don't want to know anyway.

Why This is the Only Navigation Guide You Need

In the world of small-craft sailing, space is at a premium and time is often of the essence. This book focuses on the "wrinkles" that actually smooth out navigational difficulties.

• Practical Chart Work: Learn how to use Mercator projection charts without getting bogged down in theory.

• The "Rule of Thumb" Method: Master variation, deviation, and course correction using Irving’s "Every Time a Winner" (E-T-W) system.

• Real-World Application: From selecting a safe track across the Goodwin Sands to calculating leeway in half a gale, every chapter is rooted in the reality of the sea.

• Minimalist Library: Irving shows you how to navigate almost anywhere with just a few essential tables and a coastal companion.

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Technical Specs & Quick Reference

FeatureDetails

Author: Lieut.-Commander John Irving, R.N.

Focus: Coastal & Deep-Sea Navigation for Small Yachts

Key Tools Covered: Liquid Compass, Parallel Rulers, Mercator Charts

Core Principle: Practicality over Mathematical Proof

Distance Unit: The Nautical Mile ($6,080$ feet)

"His is a specialized form of navigation, carried on in the specialized surroundings of a small reeling yacht." — John Irving

Deep Dive: What’s Inside?

Part I: The Course The fundamentals of position, direction, and distance. Understand the "Rhumb-Line" and why it’s the yachtsman’s best friend for short-distance travel.

Part II: Coastal Navigation The meat of the book. Master the art of fixing your position using shore marks, navigating through fog, and the intricacies of "working your tides"

Part III: Deep-Sea Navigation Simplified astronomical observations. Irving resolves complex math into "the taking out from a table-book and adding together of some half a dozen sets of numbers"—no more difficult than looking up a phone number.