NAUTICAL YEARBOOK 2026 / Harald Merkel

The artificial horizon is a device for taking sun or moon shots without observing the natural horizon.Excellent help for practicing sextant observations at home.The plastic body is to be filled with water or equivalent liquid and must be positioned unmoved.May not be used on sea.Plastic body with glass windows and plastic shades.May not be used for noon shots (only for angles up to 45 degrees). Comes collapsable in a plastic box.

Astronavigation has the status of a secret science from the last millennium - interesting, demanding, completely outdated and far too strenuous. Most water sports enthusiasts only study it - if at all - in preparation for an exam, such as the German Sporthochseeschifferschein (SHS) or the British RYA Yachtmaster Ocean.In the event of a total power failure on board or interference with satellite signals, astronavigation is still regarded as THE backup for GPS & Co. But who can really switch to the navigation system of our ancestors on an ad hoc basis or even has the necessary nautical documents on board?Helmut Hoffrichter has developed a completely computerised method of determining location using the sun and a sextant, which he calls ‘postmodern astronavigation’. The revised, expanded 2025 edition of his book "Postmodern Astronavigation. Travelling with the sun" has been published.The book begins with an easy-to-understand review of the history of astronomical navigation. Hoffrichter then introduces his self-developed app ‘Circle of position navigation’ (Apple) and ‘Sun Navigation’ (Android).A sextant is used to measure the distance to the unmistakable sun. For the sake of simplicity, planets and fixed stars are left out as natural celestial bodies. After measuring the elevation angle, astronavigation traditionally begins with an extensive mathematical calculation and then a graphical approximation method. This was devised in 1875 by the French naval officer Marcq Saint-Hilaire (1832-1889) as an ‘emergency solution’ that was solely due to its time.Although mathematically exact navigation methods have been known since the mid-18th century, the calculation could not be automated without a computer. In Hoffmeister's app, the elevation angle measurements can simply be entered on a mobile device. Of course, the tablet or smartphone would have to run independently of the on-board power supply failure.The long-displaced methods of mathematicians Johannes Keppler (1571-1630) and Leonhard Euler (1707-1783) as well as the ephemeris are stored in the software, which performs the location calculation at lightning speed. After using the sextant, ‘postmodern astronavigation’ is as easy to use as the familiar satellite navigation on the chart plotter. Extensive nautical documentation is not required, nor do you have to do any calculations or drawings yourself.With ‘postmodern astronavigation’, a location can be determined more precisely with the help of the sun than with the Saint Hilaire altitude difference method. Since this does not even require a gissort, the art of earlier navigators is simplified to such an extent that a genuine, easy-to-use, practical navigation backup is now available.The chapters in detailHistory of astronavigationThe Sun Navigation appA little sextant loreAnalytical position determinationDead reckoningGreat circle calculationThe equation of timeAppendix, including an extract from the 1809 publication by Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) in which he solves the two-height problem188 pages, 70 illustrations and 15 tables, format 14.8 x 21 cm, hardback. German edition.

The artificial navigation horizon is required for measuring the celestial altitude with the sextant when there is no horizon visibility, for example at night, in ground fog, when traveling under land or for land navigation.The artificial horizon can be used on all CASSENS & PLATH sextants that are equipped with illumination, as it requires a power supply. These are the sextant models Horizon Ultra, Polaris, Bobby Schenk and Professional (with illumination).The artificial horizon can easily be exchanged for the normal sextant telescope thanks to its clamping screw. No adjustment is necessary.The device is used as a normal sextant telescope (3 x 25 mm) with a bubble level inserted into the optical path. A crosshair and the dragonfly bubble appear in front of a red illuminated background. A dimmer allows the brightness to be optimally adjusted to the external lighting conditions. An additional shade glass can be attached to the lens for solar observations.The artificial horizon is suitable for navigation and approved for commercial shipping under BSH/047/01/78.For purely training purposes, the artificial training horizon (article no. 3716-113) is an inexpensive alternative. You can find it under "Similar products".A suitable case is available as an accessory to provide optimum protection when storing the artificial navigation horizon.

BOBBY SCHENK model with many ideas developed by an experienced bluewater sailor incorporated. - Full horizon mirror for good view on the solar bodies and easy handling, - indirect anti-glare lighting - 7 shaded glasses, - telescope 4 x 40. The white colour keeps it from heating up in the sun.Weight 1.85 kg.Comes with sextant engraving and a mahogany case.An optional accessory is a small chronograph (quarz watch) to identify the meter reading time.

HORIZON-ULTRA: Professional high quality sextant with specially polarized shade glasses and double prism, in order to minimize measurement errors caused by sextant tilt.- Full horizon mirror for easy handling,- index correction on the drum screw,- indirect anti-glare lighting,- telescope 4 x 40 mm.Available in two versions:- With white body: The white colour of the aluminum body avoids heating up in the sun.- With black body.Weight 1.85 kg.Comes with a nice mahogany case.An engraving of customer's (or ship's) name is inclusive and will be made on customer's request.An optional accessory is a small chronograph (quarz watch) to identify the meter reading time.

The PROFESSIONAL sextant from Cassens & Plath is a precision angle measuring instrument for astronomical positioning developed for commercial shipping. It is type-approved by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency Germany (Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie - BSH) - see further down on this page under "Downloads & Information".The sextant with 4x40 mm telescope , manufactured in Germany, is optionally equipped with a traditional split-view mirror or a full-view mirror and with or without illumination.As with all Cassens & Plath sextants, the radius of the arc complies with international standards and fulfils the accuracy tolerances.The sextant frame is milled from a 5.5-kilogram brass plate and ultimately weighs 600 grams. After milling, the frame is heated in an oven, levelled, ground and engraved. Any deformations that may occur as a result of milling and heating are straightened by light and precise hammer blows. Finally, the stress-free strut body is stove-enamelled black and then the individual components are mounted on the frame.The telescope has a 4x magnification and 40 mm objective aperture. The seven swivelling shade glasses are made of plane-parallel neutral glass. The adjustable, high-quality mirrors are of tested flatness.The sextant is supplied in a lightweight plastic case. A quality certificate is included.

The practice bubble horizon allows you to measure the celestial altitude with the sextant when there is no view of the horizon, for example at night, in ground fog, when travelling under land or for land navigation.The CELESTAIRE artificial practice horizon can be used on all sextants (not just those from CASSENS & PLATH) in place of the normal telescope. On the right-hand side, the user looks over the sextant mirror to the star and a horizontal line.For observation, the user holds the sextant vertically as usual. A dragonfly bubble must lie next to a horizontal line. The star is also centred on the horizontal line. When observing the sun, its lower edge is used.The artificial training horizon is only suitable for training purposes and NOT for navigation.An artificial navigation horizon with BSH approval for commercial shipping (article no. 3716-103) can be found further down on the page under "Similar products".

Template for celestial navigation created by RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor Leon Schulz in cooperation with the German sextant manufacturer Cassens & Plath.The clearly laid out DIN A4 sheet has proven itself in theory and practice and has helped hundreds of sailors to quickly understand, with helpful designations, information and notes, where in the sight reduction tables and Almanacs which values must be taken step by step.These are not only helpful for understanding celestial navigation, for example during an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean course, but above all as a later memory aid. The templates are clearly structured and provide step-by-step instructions on how to determine your own position.There is a template for observing the sun and one for determining the noon latitude.Each pad has 25 sheets (printed on one side). Texts in English.The free instructional videos on how to use the templates on Leon Schulz's homepage help you to familiarise yourself with the working method.www.reginasailing.com/celestial_videos/

An optional accessory to the CASSENS & PLATH sextants:a small chronograph (quarz watch with stop function) to register the reading time.With bracket which fits on the sextant.

Precision instrument developed for the professional marine industry, made from saltwater-proof aluminium. The sextant with half-transparent full horizon mirror offers undivided view of horizon. The rugged, strutted body is cast stress less, high-gloss anodised, and grey enamelled.Spezifications:Telescope JENA optics 4x40,encapsulated, high-precision metering drum,7 pivoting shaded glasses made from plane parallel neutral glass,full view horizon mirror,correction data less than 40",weight 1.4 kg (with case 4.5 kg),measurments sextant 260 x 240 x 130 mm,measurments case 340 x 332 x 170 mm. Comes with a manufacturers certificate in a solid wooden case.

The following sextant accessories are available.

Precision instrument developed for the professional marine industry and made from saltwater-proof aluminium.Half-horizon mirror.The rugged, strutted body is cast stress less, high-gloss anodised, and enamelled.JENA optics 4x40, encapsulated, high-precision metering drum, 7 pivoting shaded glasses made from plane parallel neutral glass.Comes with a manufacturers certificate in a solid wooden case.The PROFESSIONAL has a certified correction value better than 40".Weight 1.4 kg (with case, 4.5 kg).Colour: grey.Sextant with half-horizon mirror.

Precision instrument developed for the professional marine industry and made from saltwater-proof aluminium.The rugged, strutted body is cast stress less, high-gloss anodised, and enamelled.JENA optics 4x40, encapsulated, high-precision metering drum, 7 pivoting shaded glasses made from plane parallel neutral glass.Comes with a manufacturers certificate in a solid wooden case.The SIRIUS has a certified correction data of less than 20".Weight 1.4 kg (with case, 4.5 kg).The full visibility sextant with half-transparent full horizon mirror offers undivided view of star and horizon.

Handy, lightweight half-vision yacht sextant made of seawater-resistant aluminium, anodised and stove-enamelled. Available in two colours.Featuresspecifically made for yachts and smaller vesselsFilter frame made of metalslightly susceptible to interference, unaffected by electromagnetismJENA lens 3.2 x 30 mmHigh-quality, adjustable mirrors (half-vision)5 swing-in shadow glasses (3 index filters, 2 horizon filters)Delivery in wooden case for safe storageTest certificate with individual correction valuesComprehensive operating and adjustment instructionsAdjustment keyDimensionsSextant 240 x 210 x 110 mm, weight 0.85 kg. Wooden case 265 x 240 x 150 mm, weight 2.7 kg.An illumination device is available as an option.

Sextant made from fibreglass-reinforced plastic with adequate precision for learning and practise. Good precision from a micrometer barrel, mirror with 7 shaded glasses. Object lens with triangular magnification. Comes in a plastic box: 255 x 230 x 120mm with German language manual.Colour: black.

The German edition of the book is being discontinued by the publisher.David Barrie (born 1953) is a butterfly researcher, chairman of various foundations, passionate sailor and great author with great enthusiasm for navigation topics.With his first book "SEXTANT - A voyage guided by the stars and the men who mapped the world's oceans" he succeeded in creating a successful mixture of adventure, science, mathematics and heroic deeds. Above all, however, the book is also a declaration of love for the sea. "Barrie ties everything together in a light, airy way, surprises with historical detail, pays tribute to the courage of the first seafarers setting out into the unknown and brings tragic fates out of the mist of the past," a review said.Barrie describes how unknown the outlines of entire continents were just 250 years ago. Orientation by the stars was considered imperfect. Only a new observation instrument gave the modern world its shape: the sextant. David Barrie tells the story of how and why it was invented, how vital it was for seafarers and what a central role it played in the history of exploration and discovery.He artfully combines the experiences of intrepid seafarers such as James Cook, La Pérouse and Joshua Slocum with memories of his own Atlantic crossing, which he undertook as a young man.352 pages, 12.2 x 18 cm, paperback. German edition. English edition.

Simple sextant for practicing and learning. Grey plastic. Arc 178 mm, working range -10° to 100°. Prismatic reading with wide expanded nonius range (30 part dashes) allows measurements of up to 2' precision, the index mirror is moveable in two directions. Two pivoting shadow glasses as well as two shadow discs are in front of the viewer "telescope" (no lenses, no enlargement).

Lutz Böhme has been working for over 15 years for various sailing and sports boat schools in the training of sailing licences for the German certificates of competency Sportseeschifferschein (SSS) and Sporthochseeschifferschein (SHS).His special "hobbyhorse" is astronomical navigation. He has therefore compiled his various explanations, instructions and exercises on 75 pages for easy-to-understand, well-founded exam preparation.The very helpful, detailed script in ring binder form introduces astronavigation in easy-to-follow steps. It also deals with the great circle, cutlery and coupling calculations with information on using a pocket calculator for the current SHS navigation examinations.Currently the best source of information for SHS exam preparation in the field of astronavigation.The reading sample - see further down on this page under "Downloads & Information" - gives a good first impression (even if it is not from the latest edition).75 pages, numerous photos and illustrations, DIN A4 format, edition: June 2023. German edition.

Lutz Böhme has been working for over 15 years for various sailing and sports boat schools in the training of sailing licences for the German certificates of competency Sportseeschifferschein (SSS) and Sporthochseeschifferschein (SHS).He has therefore compiled his various explanations, instructions and exercises on 135 pages for easy-to-understand, well-founded exam preparation.In the terrestrial navigation section, he goes into particular depth on the content above the Sportküstenschifferschein (SKS), for example by describing current triangles lasting several hours.The topics of tidal science and calculations with the Admiralty Tide Tables (ATT) and electronic navigation are also covered. The chapter on shipping law also includes radar plotting and the evasive manoeuvres required for the SHS.A very helpful script in ring binder form.The reading sample - see further down on this page under "Downloads & Information" - gives a good first impression (even if it is not from the latest edition).135 pages, numerous photos and illustrations, DIN A4 format, edition: February 2024. German edition.