A fictionalized biography of the mathematician and astronomer who realized his childhood desire to become a ship's captain and authored The American Practical Navigator.

The American Practical Navigator, first published in 1802, was billed as the "epitome of navigation" by its original author, Nathaniel Bowditch. The text has evolved with the advances in navigation practices since that first issue and continues to serve as a valuable reference for marine navigation in the modern day. The publication describes in detail the principles and factors of navigation, including piloting, electronic navigation, celestial navigation, mathematics, safety, oceanography and meterology. It also contains various tables used in typical navigational calculations and solutions, including the formulas used to derive the tabular data. - NGA

This 2019 edition of The American Practical Navigator (Bowditch), Pub No. 9, exists to codify the latest body of marine navigation knowledge and practical application. Its publication success is a result of the dedicated efforts of many hands and voices from academia, science and seafaring experts. This edition has advanced from the judiciously shaped recommendations-some comprehensive, some minute, all indispensable-of a multitude of maritime and science professionals. At the same time, it was equally essential that those recommendations be compared, vetted, and applied in a consistent manner and with a clear vision, a challenging task performed in exemplary fashion by this edition's principal editor, Dr. Gerard J. Clifford, Jr.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920 Excerpt: ...is the same as the latitude of the point on the line A', R/J 25 19'.4 S. B115 31.5 W. We now have two Sumner linee, A'and B', under Case I, whose common latitude is 25 19MS., and whose longitudes on the common parallel are 114 61K.7 and 115 31'.5. Hence, the difference of longitude on the common parallel is 115 31'.5 W. 114 59'.7 W. CHAPTER XVI. THE PEAOTIOE 01 NAVIGATION AT SEA. 381. Having set forth in previous chapters the methods of working dead reckoning and of solving problems to find the latitude, longitude, chronometer correction, and azimuth from astronomical observations, it will be the aim of the present chapter to describe the conditions which govern the choice and employment of the various problems, together with certain considerations by which the navigator may be guided in his practical work at sea. 382. Departure And Dead Reckoning.--On beginning a voyage, a good departure must, be taken while landmarks are still in view and favorably located for the purpose; this becomes the origin of the dead reckoning, which, with frequent new departures from positions by observation, is kept up to the completion of the voyage, thus enabling the mariner to know, with a fair degree of accuracy, the position of his vessel at any instant. At the moment of taking the departure, the reading of the patent log (which should have been put over at least long enough previously to be regularly running) must be recorded, and thereafter at the time of taking each sight and at every other time when a position is required for any purpose, the log reading must also be noted. It is likewise well to read the log each hour; for general information as to the speed of the vessel as well as to observe that it is in proper running order and that the rotator has not been fouled ...