Better ways of learning?
I would save your money and get some books. The two that I would get as a must have are Duttons Navigation. The new editions includes both traditional navigation methods and modern methods. It is the book I teach out of.
http://www.amazon.com/Duttons-Nauti...r_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257522215&sr=8-10
or a tiny URL to that:
http://tiny.cc/hox69
and
A little known book for less than 10.00 used is a book that Mahoney wrote to go with Duttons Years ago. It is a wonderful workbook. Problems for each chapter in Duttons and answers with full work are provided. This is the way to teach yourself how to navigate. Better than any of the internet based courses that I have ever found.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0870211501/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used
Again a tiny link to it:
http://tiny.cc/frHtF
Then here is a freebee.
Want to read THE book on Navigation for free on your computer download The Captains bible, also know as Bowditch really it is a government publication. While you can't download the 1962 version which happens to be my favorite, here you can download the 2009 version for free. Don't say the government never did anything for you...... American Practical Navigator. Don't try to teach yourself navigation out of Bowditch though, it is a reference tomb, you go to it when you get stuck, or when you run out of money and need to bet someone something for dinner. I think Bowditch has bought me more dinners than tieing a bowline upside down while haning in the air by my feet blindfolded.... Yep running at least 4 to one on that.
Read the section on Green Flashes. If you have not seen one yet, it should be on your life list.
http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/mari...i_baseMenuID=e106a3b5e50edce1fec24fd73927a759
Again a tiny link:
http://tiny.cc/oAj6S
While you are there download everything they have to offer, quite a library actually. I remember buying all of this when I learned to Navigate, cost me close to a months pay at the time. Now you can get the data for free.
American Practical Navigator
Atlas of Pilot Charts
Chart No. 1
Distances Between Ports
International Code of Signals
NGA List of Lights
Radar Navigation and Maneuvering Board Manual
Radio Navigational Aids
Sailing Directions Enroute
Sailing Directions Planning Guides
Sight Reduction Tables for Air Navigation
Sight Reduction Tables for Marine Navigation
USCG Light List
World Port Index
Get Duttons, you will always have it is a reference even when the computer takes on water on the boat. Devote some of your movie or internet time to it, say 20 minutes each day, and you will come out of the winter knowing more about navigation theory than most people who have sailed for years.
If you run into any problems that you can't solve and need support and encouragement then log in here and ask away. Most of us like teaching, and could use a good time to formulate good answers to your questions.
Save your money and learn what you need and want to learn. You will learn it better and do better this way.
Guy