+xI would argue that a boat going to sea without a GPS intending to use celestial for primary navigational position fixing, while fine in the open ocean, is unnecessarily courting trouble when the hard bits, land, is around. Whether this is a landfall or whether it rounding a headland, or navigating near reefs, atolls and islands: it can certainly be accomplished safely, but there is clearly an increased likelihood of trouble when doing navigation solely by celestial.
Dear Dick,
Thanks for your post.
Mirabile dictu, I believe we are substantially in agreement!
I suppose one could be a purist and insist on using celestial navigation when near land. I don't know anyone who does that, and I have not done it myself.
Celestial navigation is appropriate for offshore passages, when a vessel is out of sight of land. When land is within sight, a prudent mariner wishing to use traditional methods will use (switch over) to coastal navigation techniques: compass bearings, VSAs, HSAs, running fixes, soundings, etc. That is simply faster, easier, and more accurate than working up a celestial fix.
I have no quarrel with any sailor who is uninterested in celestial navigation. Electronic navigation (not just GNSS, but radar and the now-defunct LORAN and OMEGA) is great ... not without its own limitations, but perfectly workable once one is aware of those limitations. My point was simply that celestial is not 'less safe' than other navigation systems in an open ocean context.
Best wishes,
Roger