18. Navigation

Navigation is the science of determining position, location, distance traveled, and course to a known destination, when out of the site of land.  Pilotage or Cabotage is the art of sailing along the coast using known landmarks.  The first civilization known to have developed the art of navigation at sea were the Phoenicians, about 4,000 years ago.  

The first mariners to explore the world’s oceans developed standard ways of recording  location, routes traveled, wind and water currents. Each successful voyage became a part of an expanding collection of reliable sailing information.

This information was turned into Charts.  The difference between Charts and Maps is that Charts have additional information necessary for navigation of a ship.  The first Sea Charts appeared in the 13th century.

To determine a ships position on a map, the latitude and longitude are calculated by using a system of lines. Lines of latitude run in an east-west direction across Earth.  Lines of longitude run north-south.  When added together they are called Coordinates and look like this; 36.5271° N, 6.2886° W

Early instruments used for determining latitude were the Backstaff and the Quadrant, which measured the altitude of the noonday sun, and the Astrolabe and the Sextant.  The Magnetic Compass indicated direction. Longitude was originally fixed using Chronometers and tables showing daily and yearly positions of celestial bodies. 

Since large sailing ships could not Tack (move back and forth against the wind), it was important to follow the Trade Winds.  The earths Trade Winds can be found about 30 degrees north and south of the equator. Right at the equator there is almost no wind in an area called the Doldrums.  

In the age of pirates, a Navigator (or Sailing Master) was a person who directed the course of a ship by using instruments and charts.  

Navigators were highly educated with knowledge in languages, mathematics, and illustration.  The Navigator's primary responsibility was always to be aware of the ship’s position. 

If a skilled Navigator was found aboard a captured ship, pirates would often kidnap him and force him to join their crew.  

Charts and instruments were also considered extremely valuable and were confiscated as booty.

At this stop you are presented with an entire cabinet of Navigation Artifacts, most of which were used in the Age of Sail. 

Be sure to use the Pad loaded with the Geocalc software program.  You can chart a course for your voyage and the program will give you the starting and ending Coordinates.  Also, if you have not done so, return to the Sandglass exhibit to determine time.