Barefoot Navigator

The Barefoot Navigator is an unusual and fascinating explorationof the skills of navigation employed by the ancients and transferrableto the present day. The first half of the book investigates thenavigation capabilities of seafarers long before modern navigationinstruments or charts became available. For example, how did thePolynesians manage to populate an area of ocean larger than NorthAmerica simply by analysing clouds, currents, wind direction, sun,stars and the flight patterns of ocean birds? And how did the Vikingsroutinely travel between Iceland, Greenland and Scandinavia - hugetracts of treacherous water? The second part of the book analyses howthe techniques of the ancients can be employed by 21st century seafarers to supplement today's navigational hardware - especially in survival situations. This is a unique analysis of practical technology-free navigation,whose techniques can easily be employed by modern navigators tosupplement their personal navigation skills in order to just 'know'where they are. It will fascinate navigators and landlubbers alike.

The Barefoot Navigator is an unusual and fascinating explorationof the skills of navigation employed by the ancients and transferrableto the present day. The first half of the book investigates thenavigation capabilities of seafarers long before modern navigationinstruments or charts became available. For example, how did thePolynesians manage to populate an area of ocean larger than NorthAmerica simply by analysing clouds, currents, wind direction, sun,stars and the flight patterns of ocean birds? And how did the Vikingsroutinely travel between Iceland, Greenland and Scandinavia - hugetracts of treacherous water? The second part of the book analyses howthe techniques of the ancients can be employed by 21st century seafarers to supplement today's navigational hardware - especially in survival situations. This is a unique analysis of practical technology-free navigation,whose techniques can easily be employed by modern navigators tosupplement their personal navigation skills in order to just 'know'where they are. It will fascinate navigators and landlubbers alike.