Ancient navigation methods: TOP 3 techniques

To the modern sailor, after 4000 years

People have been sailing the seas and oceans for thousands of years. No joke, by 2000 BC. people conquered almost the entire Mediterranean Sea. Around the same time, the ancestors of the Polynesians were probably already able to cross the ocean on their traditional rafts. 

Historical reference

It is worth making a remark that the likelihood of the inhabitants of South America crossing the Pacific Ocean in a westerly direction (towards Polynesia) is not a reliable scientific fact. However, the famous researcher Thor Heyerdahl experimentally proved that such a task is not impossible. Aboard a raft with a sail, a crew of six (including Tour) managed to cross the Pacific Ocean in 101 days at an average speed of 1.5 knots.

In those distant times, sailors did not have GPS or satellites. I had to rely on my own memory, landmarks and luck. You can read more about the history of navigation in this material.

However, even today, armed with all the benefits of science, we sometimes have to turn to the methods of ancient navigation. Sometimes this is necessary in order to get an answer to the question: “What was it like for those sailors of antiquity?” It is a little less common to use such methods for real needs.

Orientation by the stars

Navigation by the stars is the holy of holies of navigation in principle. Today, the position of the stars is also used in modern navigation, because bright points in the sky are landmarks for navigation systems.

Weather conditions, alas, may not always be favorable to this method of orientation. A cloudy sky will be a serious problem for a sailor. But let's say the night sky remained clear throughout your cruise. How then to use the stars for navigation?

In different seasons, different constellations are visible in the sky. In addition, the set of constellations and individual stars in the Northern Hemisphere differs from those in the Southern Hemisphere. This should be taken into account. For example, one of the most popular constellations - Orion - is clearly visible in the autumn-winter period in the Northern Hemisphere, and in the summer it is easier to find the constellations Cygnus, Taurus, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major. The polar star always points north, which also makes it a convenient reference point. 

If we navigate by the stars “by eye” without tools, then we will turn to the experience of our ancestors. A star was usually taken as a reference point, and throughout the night it moved along the course of the ship. Knowing that the desired star will set in the northwest direction at dawn, during the night the direction of our movement should coincide with the direction of the star’s movement across the sky. If we need a constant reference point, then we pay attention to the North Star.

Among the tools for working with navigation by the stars, probably the most popular and well-known is the sextant. By the way, we even had a video on this topic, we recommend you check it out!

Clouds

We found out the direction using the stars, great! Now we need to understand what weather changes await us in the next few hours. To do this, just raise your head and look carefully at the sky. Most likely, even on the clearest day we will see at least one or two clouds. 

Clouds come in different types and shapes. Almost every cloud makes it possible to determine the weather at least several hours in advance with fairly high accuracy. There are a great many combinations of clouds and indirect signs of impending weather, here are some of them:

• cirrus clouds foreshadow precipitation 10-36 hours after their appearance;
• if the Sun sets in a continuous layer of cirrus clouds, then a warm front passes within a thousand kilometers - it will rain no earlier than in a day;
• bluish cumulus clouds foreshadow imminent precipitation;
• stratus clouds may herald poor visibility;
• etc.

Ultimately, it is quite difficult to predict the weather as accurately as possible “by eye” without meteorological equipment. However, basic knowledge about the nature of clouds is quite enough to bypass a dangerous area of turbulent sea, hide in a marina, or take some action to ensure safety on board.

It happens that clouds of several types are visible on the horizon in different places. In order to understand which cloud should be analyzed, pay attention to the direction of movement of these clouds. Slower clouds are more likely to be over land. Those faster and moving in your direction will most likely have a decisive influence on the weather in the coming hours.

Birds

Birds are always a good sign at sea. If after a long journey you still cannot see the shore, but you hear the cry of a bird, it means you are close to your goal. Birds are probably the second most reliable guide after the night sky. However, not every bird will be useful to us.

We are interested in birds that sleep on land and have a very specific and constant pattern of behavior. It is necessary that such birds fly out to sea at dawn and return home at dusk. This will make it easier to use them for navigation. These birds include white terns, puffins, frigatebirds, brown noddies and brown boobies. 

Let's assume that you don't know what kind of bird is in front of you. How then can we determine where it will most likely fly? Take a close look through binoculars. If there is a fish in the bird’s beak, then most likely it will fly or is already flying to land. 

In addition, each bird species can indicate a very specific distance from the mainland. Thus, frigates rarely fly further than 120 kilometers from the coast. Gannets will not fly further than 50-52 kilometers. 

Migrating birds are a completely different matter. They fly into the distance in schools, which can also be used for orientation. The ancestors of the Polynesians also oriented themselves according to the direction of movement of migratory birds. 

From a modern sailor, 4000 years later

Already today, the navigation methods described are more auxiliary than mandatory. In the age of digitalization and automation, such orientation measures are increasingly used by a variety of navigation systems that transmit data to the skipper about the weather and the position of the vessel in space, depriving him of the need for continuous monitoring of the surrounding space. 

In any case, it is quite difficult to predict exactly how navigation will develop in the future. We can only preserve the legacy of our ancestor sailors. Along with the use of paper maps, the ability to offhand determine the weather a couple of hours in advance or even using GPS to be able to navigate by the stars is good form for any sailor.

The Interparus team reminds you that yachting is, first of all, about a safe holiday. We wish that your cruises in the coming 2024 will be safe and calm, the sea will favor you, and Neptune, Poseidon or St. Nicholas will be reliable guardians of your life and peace. Thank you for being with us this year!

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30.12.2023