The whys and wherefores of navigation

A seasoned navigator will find this compact yet thorough work a valuable companion to the classic texts that dominate the shelf. Written by a senior instructor who has spent years at the helm of training ships, the book skips the elementary drills and instead asks “why” each method is trusted, giving seasoned crew members a chance to deepen the logic behind their daily routines. It is positioned as a supplement to the venerable American Practical Navigator, offering fresh perspective without repeating the basics.

The opening chapters walk the reader through compass systems, translating points, degrees and quadrants with clear, practical examples. From there it explores dead‑reckoning, illustrating how true, magnetic and compass headings interrelate, and how wind, current and steering errors subtly shift a vessel’s track. By treating every course as a triangle of meridian, parallel and distance, the author shows how simple trigonometry becomes a navigator’s most trusted ally, turning routine calculations into a deeper, more confident art.