Captian Jack's Basic Navigation

Jack I. Davis has written this very easy to understand instructional navigation book. After traveling thousands of miles on the water and teaching hundreds of navigation and boating courses, Captain Jack has put his vast experience into this excellent book. Filled with knowledge, sea stories and humorous anecdotes, this book is not only a learning tool but thoroughly enjoyable to read. He has even thrown in a few boating lessons to help you at sea.

Captain Jack takes the reader through each phase of navigation by first explaining, in detail, the steps needed to complete each phase. This is followed by a list of questions to answer, using your new found knowledge. After you have completed the questions, you can check your answers at the end of each chapter. All the calculations are accomplished with simple, grade school math using an inexpensive calculator and basic plotting tools.

If you believe you do not need these Old Time navigational skills in this modern age of electronic navigation, Captain Jack makes this suggestion to you: "Tape a mirror below your GPS display. When the electronics fail, you can look in the mirror and see exactly who is lost". Illustrated.

Captain Jack I. Davis and his first mate Mary (Mary is an excellent sailor and registered nurse), have lived aboard their forty-three foot Wauquiez ketch since 1984.

His first career was banking and his second career was computer software for banks but his main love has always been sailboats. During this time he owned several power boats and enjoyed water skiing and fishing but yearned for the blue water which the Texas lakes did not offer. He had made several ocean crossings before obtaining his first U. S. Coast Guard Captain's License in 1984 at which time he started boat deliveries in earnest.

The majority of the deliveries have been from Texas to Florida and the West Indies with one delivery completely circumnavigating the Gulf of Mexico. In May 1998, he made his sixty first open water crossing of the Gulf of Mexico.

Between deliveries he has taught countless sailing and navigation classes. His sense of humor and teaching style, as demonstrated in this book, keep his students coming back for more. He has continually upgraded that first license and now holds a U. S. Coast Guard Master's License, Steam, MotorSail and Sail.