"Barking Dog Navigation"

[Joe Brown]

For a magazine article I am preparing, can anyone think of examples of what I call "barking dog navigation," that is, finding one's way in local waters when visibility shuts down, by means other than sight; in other words, local knowledge by sound or smell. The name was given by a sailor who knew from experience when he sailed past a field in which he knew there were dogs, and could hear them barking. In San Diego, caught in a fog, I once got myself home when I could smell hamburgers cooking on barbecues in a picnic area with which I was familiar, alongside the Mission Bay navigation channel. One wag proposed carrying a bag of potatoes. If fog closed in and he was worried about running into the shore, he's toss out a potato. If it splashed, he'd keep going. If he heard a thud, he'd 180 in a hurry. Ideas appreciated. Let's have some fun with this one . -Joe Brown, CD-28 "Caprice," Rockport, Maine



joebrown@mint.net

[Ed Roberts]

Crashing surf is always a good one. But there is a story I have seen in sailing literature somewhere, but which I cannot locate, about the Nantucket whaling captain who was so good he could tell his location by the taste of the bottom samples brought up on the lead. On one voyage, his crew brought a sample of dirt from home and put it on the lead when they came on-soundings on the return voyage. The captain tasted it and said, "God help us. Nantucket has sunk and we're over Widow Martin's garden." (Try to find the original, though, it was better)
Ed R.



edwardroberts@sprintmail.com

[Ed Roberts]

Crashing surf is always a good one. But there is a story I have seen in sailing literature somewhere, but which I cannot locate, about the Nantucket whaling captain who was so good he could tell his location by the taste of the bottom samples brought up on the lead. On one voyage, his crew brought a sample of dirt from home and put it on the lead when they came on-soundings on the return voyage. The captain tasted it and said, "God help us. Nantucket has sunk and we're over Widow Martin's garden." (Try to find the original, though, it was better)
Ed R.



edwardroberts@sprintmail.com

[john churchill]

ther are some great stories in farley mowat's book "the boat who wouldn't float" about buying an old derelict in nova scotia and sailing it around. it is a great read for anyone who has ever been aboard. highly recommended. should be in the local library.
john churchill

[Christopher Columbus]

At least your "barking dog" navigational theory won't be subject to that silly Y2K bug.

[Walt Bilofsky]

Not really a Cape Dory question, but interesting.

Here in San Francisco Bay, before it was spanned by bridges, a huge network of ferries provided transportation. In fact, my town of Tiburon was the railroad terminus for coastal Northern California; trains got over from San Francisco by ferry.

However, S.F. Bay enjoys (if that's the word) quite a bit of fog, creating a navigational hazard. To cope with this, at numerous strategic points on the bay shore, there were erected large slatted structures looking somewhat like huge venetian blinds. The ferry captain would sound his whistle, and listen for the echos, from which an experienced captain could tell his position.

I don't have a reference on this for you, but have seen it nentioned in several places and have seen photos of the sound reflectors.



bilofsky@toolworks.com

[M. R. Bober]

Until the early 19th century the Tate Watch Co. of Boston(?) was famous for their timepieces. Near mid-century they added navigational instruments to their line (e.g. compasses, sextons, etc.). The navigational equipment was of very poor quality--in fact several wagon trains headed to California wound up in Canada, Mexico or Florida. Prehaps you have heard the expression "He who has a Tates is lost"?

M. R. Bober
RESPITE
CD330



thebobers@erols.com

[Bill Goldsmith]

groannnnnnnn.......

Until the early 19th century the Tate Watch Co. of Boston(?) was famous for their timepieces. Near mid-century they added navigational instruments to their line (e.g. compasses, sextons, etc.). The navigational equipment was of very poor quality--in fact several wagon trains headed to California wound up in Canada, Mexico or Florida. Prehaps you have heard the expression "He who has a Tates is lost"?

M. R. Bober
RESPITE
CD330

goldy@bestweb.net

[Carl Nord]

Crashing surf is always a good one. But there is a story I have seen in sailing literature somewhere, but which I cannot locate

It is in 1970/1980's versions "The Crusing Guide to The New England Coast" by Duncan. It may still be in current versions but I do not know for sure.

Carl ex owner of CD 27 "Nord*Star"



cnord@snet.net

[Ed Roberts]

Thank you, Carl. Here is the quote from the 1955 Cruising Guide to the New England Coast, in the section on Nantucket:
"Most cruisers visiting the island know the ancient story of the Nantucket skipper who boasted he could tell where his schooner might be in the thickest weather, simply by tasting what the sounding lead brought up. His mates resolved to put him to the test. The lead was well greased and thrust into a box of earth -"a parsnip bed" that had been brought on board before sailing. It was taken down to the skipper, and he was requested to tell the schooner's position. At the first taste:

The skipper stormed and tore his hair,
Thrust on his boots and roared to Marden,
"Nantucket's sunk and here we are
Right over old Marm Hackett's garden!"

Ed R.





edwardroberts@sprintmail.com

[MJ Spring-Brush]

In regard to your upcoming magazine article. Marine photographer Stanley Rosenfeld's wife Heather Hanley told me the following story.
They were sailing a small boat in buzzard's bay years age, before GPS, and were overcome by fog.. Stanley had Heather hold onto his britches & leaned over the side, head just above water. Stanley knew that in buzzard's bay in fog with little wind, the fog sits about 6" above
the water. He could see enough to pilot them to their destination. Local knowledge!



brush@uconnvm.uconn.edu

[Don Sargeant]

My grandfather claimed to use that technique to come in off the Sound in the fog. I was mentioning it to a friend just the other day...
Don Sargeant
~~COQUINA~



My grandfather claimed to use that technique to: In regard to your upcoming magazine article. Marine photographer Stanley Rosenfeld's wife Heather Hanley told me the following story.

They were sailing a small boat in buzzard's bay years age, before GPS, and were overcome by fog.. Stanley had Heather hold onto his britches & leaned over the side, head just above water. Stanley knew that in buzzard's bay in fog with little wind, the fog sits about 6" above
the water. He could see enough to pilot them to their destination. Local knowledge!

[John Ring]

For a magazine article I am preparing, can anyone think of examples of what I call "barking dog navigation," that is, finding one's way in local waters when visibility shuts down, by means other than sight; in other words, local knowledge by sound or smell. The name was given by a sailor who knew from experience when he sailed past a field in which he knew there were dogs, and could hear them barking. In San Diego, caught in a fog, I once got myself home when I could smell hamburgers cooking on barbecues in a picnic area with which I was familiar, alongside the Mission Bay navigation channel. One wag proposed carrying a bag of potatoes. If fog closed in and he was worried about running into the shore, he's toss out a potato. If it splashed, he'd keep going. If he heard a thud, he'd 180 in a hurry. Ideas appreciated. Let's have some fun with this one . -Joe Brown, CD-28 "Caprice," Rockport, Maine

Hi,
The version I propose involves much of the traditional potato navigation with one addendum. If you hear a thud and a scream, do a 180 and start the motor too!
John Ring



ringj@mediaone.net