maritime

Navigators toolchest- Before charts Background Of all the tools the navigator uses the chart is his most used one and where all the position-finding data is deposited. It is the tool that describes the historic and current position of the ship. So how did the sea chart or chart as it is called come about? Before charts-the oral traditions Seafarers crossed the oceans long before there were charts. The Vikings, the Pacific Islanders and the Arabs did not have charts, yet they managed to cross oceans. In the case of the Pacific Islanders, vast distances. Essentially, they were tuned in to their maritime environment. They were aware of prevailing winds, swells, waves. They could detect how close they were to shore by clouds on the horizon, by birds appearing around the ship. They could interpret the colour of the sea as an indicator of water depth or ocean current. Their senses were tuned to changes in wind direction and strength, so important on frail ships with limited man...