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  Learn how to navigate with a sextant using today's advanced technology with Captain J. C. Waters aboard the Schooner   SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE. October 26, 2010   Schooner SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE sailing on the Elizabeth River. The very technology that seemed to question  the viability of the practical use of the Sextant is now the tool that makes the Sextant once again an important navigation tool for the small boat cruiser as well as the professional navigator.   Traditional companion tools for the Sextant were the chronometer, almanac, sight reduction tables, worksheets, and plotting board.  All of these tools were required and were tedious and time consuming to work with and maintain.  Now enter the i-phone app “Star Pilot”, hand held computer with dedicated sight reduction program and the inexpensive digital watch.   Now the procedure to get a fix becomes:  Take the shot with the sextant, observe the time with the digital...

Schooner Days 2010,  Portsmouth, Virginia October 15-16, 2010   Schooner Days is a celebration of the world’s largest gathering of schooners along the waterfront of Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia. It's held this year in conjunction with the 21st Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race from Baltimore to Portsmouth- racing to save the bay !   Schooners LADY MARYLAND  and LIBERTY CLIPPER at Portsmouth, Virginia's Schooner Days. This two-day celebration offers numerous maritime-related activities along the seawall and at the High Street Landing; many are free to the general public. Schooners line the seawall at Portsmouth, Virginia's High Street Landing The Portsmouth waterfront from North Landing to beyond the High Street Landing will showcase over 40 schooners from local and distant ports and is considered the largest gathering of schooners in the world. A gathering of  great vintage wooden schooners are clustered together in Olde Towne Portsmouth for Sc...