NAVIGATION FOR NOVICES

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34107, 20 March 1976, Page 9

NAVIGATION FOR NOVICES

The Yachtsman’s Navigation Manual. By Jeff Toghill. A. W. and A. H. Reed. 256 pp. N.Z. price $12.95. (Reviewed by Philip Worthington)

There is no lack of books on little ship navigation. The only excuse for another on the same theme is that it should be better, more lucid or more comprehensive than its predecessors. But this book nas none of these virtues, and, unfortunately, it does not match Mr Toghill’s earlier books on sailing. The manual is attractively laid out, and is amply illustrated with photographs and line drawings. These are of considerable value in the chapter on weather and weather forecasting. However, Mr Toghill does not explain why such a chapter is included in a book described as a navigation primer for novices.

Another chapter describes at length the fitting and operation of electronic navigation equipment such as radar, Decca, and Loran. It could well have been omitted. Those who can afford such equipment will find equally detailed information in the instruction sheets supplied with it.

When such material is removed the core of navigation instruction which remains is thin indeed. A complete novice might be able to pick up most of the processes of coastal navigation from the book, but there are few worked examples, and no problems, for the beginner to lest nis understanding of the various exercises described. Those completely unfamiliar with navigation who attempt to teach themselves, and

do not read supplementary navigational texts, will find the descriptions of celestial navigation quite confusing As a supplement to a text provided with problems and answers, this manual could be useful to have aboard. But it falls short of its selfprofessed aim — to provide a complete tutor and reference for navigation. |Philip Worthington is a staff writer of "The Press,” and has sailed yachts in offshore races for several years.)