Celestial Navigation
Navigate by the stars, sun, and moon — no GPS required.
Overview
Celestial navigation is the practice of determining your position at sea using observations of celestial bodies — the sun, moon, planets, and stars. In FairWinds, cel nav is fully modeled and pairs naturally with No GPS mode, where lat/long readouts are disabled and you must find your own way.
More detail coming soon.
Nav View vs Chart View
FairWinds has two complementary views when sailing celestially:
- Nav View — your instrument panel. Heading, speed, apparent wind, and your sextant readings.
- Chart View — the map. In No GPS mode the chart is blacked out or fogged until you establish a fix.
Understanding when to switch between them is key to efficient cel nav practice.
More detail coming soon.
The Sky Tool and Taking Fixes
The Sky Tool is your in-game sextant. It lets you observe celestial bodies and compute lines of position (LOPs) that you can plot on the chart to establish a fix.
For a full walkthrough of the Sky Tool, see the dedicated guide: The Sky Tool →
More detail coming soon.
Getting in Rhythm with the Sky
Celestial navigation is as much about timing as it is about math. The sun rises and sets on a schedule, twilight gives you the best star sights, and noon sights are the classic latitude check. This section covers building a daily routine around the sky's rhythms so you always have a fix when you need one.
More detail coming soon.