Around the world - no instruments!

[Didereaux]

http://www.globestar.org/

I apologize in advance for this somewhat off-topic post. But I feel more sorry that somehow this amazing feat was a victim of my lack of attention.

For a small boat and crew (a brewer designed 35) to circum-navigate with absolutely no instruments of any sort is truly amazing...and the ol' boy was 'up in years' to boot...as they say in these parts.

He still lives, and still sails.

I feel more than a bit sorry for myself and those others who fail to make our marks in such distinctive manner. Oh well, we get to see the pictures and read the words.

[winthrop fisher]

Hey....

yes that is a excellent trip.

he learned the art of the old way.

he is not the first.

like the polynesians and the vikings, greeks, portugese, spaniards and some others as well.

he did it the old way by reading the wind and waves and reading the sky.

people do not try that any more, because they are afraid or they do not trust there sailing ability.

i think ever one going to sea should be able to read the wind and the water at least.

reading the sky is not that hard, when my parents started teaching there kids on astrology as a fun time to look at the sky at night and at sea and picking out there horoscope, see if you can find yours.

its all in the way you do it with your kids and others. its fun...

as he went around the world thats a hard one to do, and i am glad he made it home in one piece.

horoscope and astrology, sailors have been using it for a long time.

just my two cents worth.

winthrop

http://www.globestar.org/

I apologize in advance for this somewhat off-topic post. But I feel more sorry that somehow this amazing feat was a victim of my lack of attention.

For a small boat and crew (a brewer designed 35) to circum-navigate with absolutely no instruments of any sort is truly amazing...and the ol' boy was 'up in years' to boot...as they say in these parts.

He still lives, and still sails.

I feel more than a bit sorry for myself and those others who fail to make our marks in such distinctive manner. Oh well, we get to see the pictures and read the words.

[slaume]

Not to belittle his accomplishment but it does appear that he had charts of the areas he was sailing. I would give up navigation insturments in favor of good charts. I some times try to imagine what it must have been like to sail into an uncharted area. It could be anything from an ocean crossing to poking around in a bay or among islands. Try to imaginge doing it without a chart or knowlege of the area. If you pile on big poor handling ships that refuse to go to weather it is suprising any body ever made it home to draw up the charts to make it easier for the next guy. Still quite an accomplishment. I just wonder why you would want to do it that way, Steve.

I wonder if he had a TV set?

[Neil Gordon]

If you pile on big poor handling ships that refuse to go to weather it is suprising any body ever made it home to draw up the charts to make it easier for the next guy ... I just wonder why you would want to do it that way.

Actually, most of those who went to sea didn't make it back alive. Not over their career, anyway.

As for why would anyone do it "that way," why do we use sails instead of motors? Why do we do so many thinks in ways that are more traditional but otherwise harder?

[Didereaux]

There is one thing always to keep in mind about charts...if you do not know where you are geographically, then you cannot find yourself on the best of charts.

Charts work because you keep your orientation and thus can plot your position, DR? However, ask yourself how you would do the DR without the use of electronics, compasses's, sextants etc.

In dock terms, your hosed, mate!

So my advice is learn a few tricks to go along with your charts, or stay within site of your mooring ball.

[Neil Gordon]

...if you do not know where you are geographically, then you cannot find yourself on the best of charts.

Charts work because you keep your orientation and thus can plot your position, ... learn a few tricks to go along with your charts, or stay within site of your mooring ball.

Before GPS taught us that we know exactly where we are, a large part of navigating successfully was knowing where you were not. That method would keep you away from reefs, rocks and the like. By eliminating the places you're not, sooner or later you're left with where you are, but you don't need to know where you are in the first place. It's still a basic of piloting... keep your bearing to a fixed aid at more than xxx or no less than yyy and you're assured of not going over the mud flat. You don't need to know where you are, just where you're not.

Learning tricks is certainly a good idea, though!

[winthrop fisher]

hey... good point, in the old days they did not use charts, but they were making them... good point...winthrop

Not to belittle his accomplishment but it does appear that he had charts of the areas he was sailing. I would give up navigation insturments in favor of good charts. I some times try to imagine what it must have been like to sail into an uncharted area. It could be anything from an ocean crossing to poking around in a bay or among islands. Try to imaginge doing it without a chart or knowlege of the area. If you pile on big poor handling ships that refuse to go to weather it is suprising any body ever made it home to draw up the charts to make it easier for the next guy. Still quite an accomplishment. I just wonder why you would want to do it that way, Steve.

I wonder if he had a TV set?

[Mike Rodriguez]

Back in the days before charts they had small boats they would use to explore unfamiliar areas before sailing (or warping) in the bigger ship. Plus they sailed in like porcupines make love, very carefully.

Cheers,
Mike R.