Ocean Sail Training

Ocean Sail Training with Celestial Navigation

“The practice of celestial navigation extends our skills and deepens our relationship with the universe around us.” 

(David Barrie).

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The Facebook group “Practical Celestial Navigation” with 11k members chose the reginasailing photo showing Jonathan taking sun shots on our latest leg from the Azores to Lisbon.

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Autonomy. The freedom of sovereignty. Self-determination by self reliance. Sometimes, the future is found in our past. Navigate freely becoming independent from any outside sources. Celestial navigation has become more popular than ever! Learn to use the Sextant in a modern and relaxed way. Friendly Ocean Theory Course week in Malta and practical Ocean Sail Training legs. Get ready for your RYA Yachtmaster Ocean exam. Read why Celestial training is unique and different with Reginasailing. Get purchasing advice and discount on your sextant and books.

  • Learn how to use the Sextant and navigate by the sun, planets, moon and stars!

  • Practice using your sextant while sailing on a Hallberg-Rassy!

  • Find relevant information about weather, routes and destinations

  • Get involved in the planning, preparation and performing of an ocean passage

  • Join on a commercially coded sail training vessel approved for the RYA ocean qualifying passage   

  • Complete preparation for the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean exam

 

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Enjoy the short inspiring videos below, then scroll further down to check out the various courses and more information about ocean sailing!

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Celestial Theory Course in Malta

Combine holiday in sunny Malta with learning the sextant and get rewarded by your Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Certificate.
– 6 days course in a 5-star hotel
– Learn Celestial Navigation and Ocean Sailing the practical way
–Take advantage of the special Reginasailing Templates
– Includes the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean assessment
– Unique Sophisticated Reginasailing templates that never let you down
– 30 tutorial videos to remind you how it works even years ahead.
– Qualifies as an RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Course Completion Certificate
Read more about the theory course.

Practical Celestial Sail Training

Sailing 1.5 days out into an ocean, getting hands-on practice using a sextant and doing sight reductions in a real onboard environment.
– Minimum 4.5 days course; often combined with a pleasant coastal sailing leg
– Onboard rehearsal of the theory
– Sailing out from the coast until no land is in sight
– Taking a sun-run-sun and compass check to find your position
– Get your necessary shots for your RYA Ocean exam
– Optional Mock exam for your RYA Ocean certificate
– Legs offered on HR46 Regina Laska and HR43 iDolci
Click here to read more about practical sextant training

Ocean Passage Sail Training

Get involved in preparing for a true ocean passage, including watch schemes, safety checks, boat checks, victualling, weather briefing and passage planning.
– Minimum 10 days course; often combined with a pleasant coastal cruising
– Sophisticated weather briefing sessions to find the best weather window
– Minimum 4 days, 600+nm nonstop ocean passage
– Celestial navigation (weather permitting)
– Qualifies as an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean passage for the exam
– Legs offered on HR46 Regina Laska or HR43 iDolci
Click here to read about ocean sail training

RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Exam

Holders of an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate may become a true RYA Yachtmaster Ocean! Provided you have completed all necessary elements you can book your RYA Ocean Exam. For well-prepared Reginasailing students, this is seldom more than a pleasant oral 2-3 hours discussion about your sights, reduction and ocean passage.
– Exam is undertaken by the RYA who appoints an examiner in your vicinity
– Optional mock exam for Reginasailing candidates having joined all three ocean modules
Click here to book your exam

Hall of Yachtmasters

Get to know the proud Reginasailing Yachtmasters

Why Celestial Navigation?

The Ukraine war has shown: Don't rely on GNSS! Jamming or spoofing satellite retrieved position information has become a new part of warfare and terrorism. It's every seaman's responsibility to autonomously master navigation.
– Be prepared to flee from an attack
– Become self reliant and independent from any outside source
– Feel the freedom of autonomy
– Pass on the deep knowledge of maritime history to your next generation
– Add the sought-after "Ocean" to your RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate
– Enjoy the extra flair and respect of an ocean sailor
Click here to read about why the sextant is still worth knowing.

Why Reginasailing?

What makes Reginasailing so special for Ocean Sail Training?
– The pleasure of learning in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere
– Sharing Leon's 70,000+ miles and 40 years of experience
– Understanding the background and the "why" we do what
– Getting easy to follow "how-to" hands-on step-by-step guides
– Offering the complete package from theory to practical ocean sailing
Click here to read about the learning method

Celestial Video Courses

5 steps to fix a position with a sextant:

1. Measure the angle between the horizon and a celestial object (e.g. the sun) and note the exact time of observation ("Ho")
2. Choose an Assumed Position ("AP") in your vicinity for which the direction to the sun ("Azimuth") and the angle you should have measured had you been at the AP ("Hc") are given in the tables at the given time
3. Compare the two angles. The difference in minutes (Ho-Hc) is how far you are from the AP in nm ("Intercept"), either closer or further away from the sun.
4. Draw your AP, Azimuth and Intercept into your chart. Your position is a along a line perpendicular to the Azimuth ("Position Line")
5. Two Position Lines give your Fix
Click here to watch a 3-min summery video

Click here to watch the all Reginasailing celestial video courses.

Celestial Templates

The popular Reginasailing templates for Celestial Calculations are now published by Cassens&Plath and can be bought in their Webshop.

Buying Sextants, Starfinder and Books

Thanks to a co-operation between Bookharbour.com and Reginasailing, Friends of the Reginasailing family enjoy a 10% discount on books and sextants.
Click here to read about sextants and your discount code

The Itinerary

Check the sailing leg that suits you. See the most current itinerary for next year as well as links to previous legs. If you are interested in future legs, contact us!
Click here to find details of next year's sailing legs

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