In a message dated 1/26/04 12:06:47 AM, Ron writes:
<< In the Army (yes, believe it or not) we were always taught to pick an
offset
from an objective and follow a magnetic bearing to the offset rather than
the objective. The concept being that in the unlikely event that your land
navigation was precise, you would not stumble onto the objective until you
were ready. >>
This technique dates back to the Vikings. My navigation instructor taught me
to estimate the maximum error possible in the navigation method I was using
(DR or Celestial) then use this distance as an offset for any long distance
passage. When you reached the coast, you would know which direction to turn to
reach your target destination. While it is true than modern GPS accuracy is 10
meters or less, many charts have considerably more error, so the use of offsets
still has merit.
Larry Z
In a message dated 1/26/04 12:06:47 AM, Ron writes:
<< In the Army (yes, believe it or not) we were always taught to pick an
offset
from an objective and follow a magnetic bearing to the offset rather than
the objective. The concept being that in the unlikely event that your land
navigation was precise, you would not stumble onto the objective until you
were ready. >>
This technique dates back to the Vikings. My navigation instructor taught me
to estimate the maximum error possible in the navigation method I was using
(DR or Celestial) then use this distance as an offset for any long distance
passage. When you reached the coast, you would know which direction to turn to
reach your target destination. While it is true than modern GPS accuracy is 10
meters or less, many charts have considerably more error, so the use of offsets
still has merit.
Larry Z
