Don't try this at home .. ancient means of navigation

[Nostrodamus]

I have long been fascinated about the ancient navigational methods of getting from one point to another.

The ancient Polynesia sailor could read waves giving them a roadmap of where they were but they also found that the best way of reading subtle changes in the sea was to use something very sensitive.

I would not suggest you try this on your next sail but they used to rest their testicles on the stern post as they could pick up slight variations in the sea easily.

Have you heard of any unusual navigational methods?

 

[Tony Cross]

I was told that when navigating at night in Norwegian fiords you should position someone in the bows with a bucket of raw potatoes. They should throw a potato as far forward as they can every 30 seconds. If they hear a splash then all is well. If they don't hear a splash you must turn away quickly.....

 

[DanTribe]

I wonder if they will accept that method in the Yachtmaster practical exam. ["show your workings"]
Pedantic point. If you were at home you would probably know where you were, so no need to navigate.

 

[Colvic Watson]

I sometimes navigate by asking our 6 year old which bit of the coast we are off, being a student of the Zen approach to nautical navigation she usually replies "I wish we were at Studland Bay", that always makes me feel better and I'm no longer that bothered about where we are.

 

[sarabande]

Have you read

Lewis, David (1994), We the Navigators:the Ancient art of Landfinding in the Pacific


Astonishing skills at reading the signs.

 

[theoldsalt]

When lost I always stop and ask a mermaid the way - never fails.

 

[AndrewB]

I was told that when navigating at night in Norwegian fiords you should position someone in the bows with a bucket of raw potatoes. They should throw a potato as far forward as they can every 30 seconds. If they hear a splash then all is well. If they don't hear a splash you must turn away quickly.....

 

[fisherman]

I was told that when navigating at night in Norwegian fiords you should position someone in the bows with a bucket of raw potatoes. They should throw a potato as far forward as they can every 30 seconds. If they hear a splash then all is well. If they don't hear a splash you must turn away quickly.....

Similarly east coast barges with their notoriously shallow draft used to position a lad up forward to report what the seagulls were doing. "Swimming round".
"You sure? Bean't that one walking?"
Yes skip"
"Hard a port!"

 

[theoldsalt]

Similarly east coast barges with their notoriously shallow draft used to position a lad up forward to report what the seagulls were doing. "Swimming round".
"You sure? Bean't that one walking?"
Yes skip"
"Hard a port!"

I too recall in my youth sailing with "old timers" that I was told when in potentially shallow water to see whether the gulls were walking or swimming.

 

[tudorsailor]

I loved the book called Barefoot Navigator http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Barefoot-Navigator-Navigating-Ancients/dp/0713674296

Nostro may want to rename it however

TS

 

[BoyBlue49]

Is that why women are so bad at navigation and map reading from the passenger seat, maybe to do with reversing as well.

DUCK !!!

 

[BobnLesley]

" Is that why women are so bad at navigation..."

It was explained to me only a few days ago (by a lady) "why it requires a million sperm to fertilise a single egg?"

"Because not one of the beggars is prepared to stop and ask directions!"

With regard to the OP and subsequent replies regarding ancient navigation/pilotage methods, I have to say that watching seagulls, asking mermaids, throwing potatoes and indeed resting your privates on the rudder post (though it'd be a bit of a stretch for some of us) doesn't seem any dafter/scarier than motoring/sailing along, whilst disregarding your surroundings completely, in favour of the information being offered to you by a small electronic screen.

 

[onesea]

SWMBO is quite happy to aim at seagulls all day... Not certain its ancient or navigation but it gets us from A to B and she is happy...

 

[johnalison]

I put an article into our sailing club magazine about estimating distance off. Included was a formula which gave your distance off in relation the the length of any fishing-boat recently passed.

 

[oldbilbo]

It's rare that one is out of sight of a stretch of our coastline, sufficient for it to matter. When unsure of position, and concerned, may I suggest you motor into one of the many bays until you can read the road signs. Then STOP....

Better still, follow one of the other peripatetic forumeers into said bay.When he stops, you STOP.

 

[Nostrodamus]

I have to say that when I first read about this means of navigation I thought it was a joke. I asked Mr Google about it and sure enough it seems to be true.
The reasoning is that they used to navigate by feeling tidal streams, the changing current from the sea moving off distant islands, rivers running into the sea. Of course there were also other natural signs they used as well. but it is apparently true.
I just think the history and means by which the ancients navigated was a fascinating piece of or seagoing history.
It may be that in another few thousand years someone will post.
In olden times people used to find their way around using a jar of liquid with a needle in in that pointed somewhere near north... oh, apparently that one has already been done.

 

[Downsman]

A long time ago there was a local man who owned a 26 foot open boat with which he used to run day angling trips. I was home on leave, and he asked me if I would take seven anglers out one day, as he was busy.
I agreed, but first went out as a trial run with him. About an hours steaming from the harbour he looked over the side and said " It's 5 fathoms here" ( Told you it was a long time ago.. )I checked the little depth sounder tucked a away under the stern thwart..5 fathoms!!
We altered course and ran along the coast a way and he said " It's 8 here" I checked...8 fathoms!!

When we got back ashore I told someone in the cafe that the boat owner seemed to know depths by just by looking over the side. When the laughter died down, he explained the crafty old bu88er was lining up shore marks like the ' V' in the cliff with the barn up on the Downland or the breakwater end with the old gun emplacement up on the cliff top.
17 years old and my first lesson in transits...

 

[MASH]

Where do you rest your testicles when seeking guidance from a mermaid?

 

[fisherman]

the crafty old bu88er was lining up shore marks like the ' V' in the cliff with the barn up on the Downland or the breakwater end with the old gun emplacement up on the cliff top.
17 years old and my first lesson in transits...

A visitor, keen on angling asked one of the older fishermen for some marks: "Well head off with the pub open until you open up the Headland hotel then close the pub in and carry the church tower off to the south'rd......"

 

[Downsman]

A visitor, keen on angling asked one of the older fishermen for some marks: "Well head off with the pub open until you open up the Headland hotel then close the pub in and carry the church tower off to the south'rd......"

Sounds familiar.. I soon learned the marks. 45 minutes SSW with the East Pier end in line with the Breakwater light meant I was over the wrecks and the punters caught their Conger...which meant I got a good tip...:encouragement: