It was one hour before midnight, we were only 18 hours from Wilhelmshaven heading WNW and already struggling stormy waves of North Sea. Thank God it wasn't raining, the wind was enough frustrating but somehow the sky was clear! It was probably our last chance to pick up the Polaris so I've yelled down the tower for Walter to bring his toys with him.
Like a true pro, he stated that we're way off course which was undoubtedly confirmed by main compass... damn you Walter. Not a good way to begin our patrol...
----------
OK the point is I've located the Polaris, sextant shows about 54N degrees. This would more or less match with my tiny knowledge. But how to use it precisely? I have no idea about sunset/rise times and how to use that table. Freddie mentions problem with GMT time east of Greenwich.
But the biggest problem so far is getting of the course! It didn't happened last time and if it was marginal. My errors were rather from not too exact drawing and making turns on time. The wind is 12 m/s coming from 126, sea is heavy, boat fights the waves. What does 126 mean? Is it bearing or wind course? If this is course than it should blow from my starboard as I'm going 294 but boat turns about 10 degrees north to 305 every 30 minutes. Can't help it by setting course in different ways, commanding rudder amidships... maybe I should put 1 degree port to compensate? This is getting interesting. As if I wouldn't use ctrl+click I would finish completely lost in the middle of North Sea
Another idea, I'll try going into different directions and see what happens than!?
