By Mary Blewitt
Not many books run to 12 editions and the reason this one still exists in a world of satellite navigation is that most self-respecting ocean sailors expect to be able to use a sextant. That they can do so without too many tears is thanks to Ms Blewitt’s clear and concise prose.
Never forget that batteries run out, aerials snap off, sea-water rots electronics and lightning strikes happen.
Ocean sailor John Passmore, a solo Transat yachtsman and former Daily Mail journalist said he read Mary’s tome while sailing down the English Channel and by the time he’d reached the Atlantic he could master his sextant!
All you need to be able to do is add and subtract, which explains why the book has been a bestseller for over 50 years.
