Natural Navigation - find your way at sea
Bushcraft, News — By Outdoor Adventure Guide on June 6, 2012 at 11:59 amNautical charts and radar detectors left you feeling a little lost at sea? In the second part of our natural navigation series, OAG looks to ditches the modern equipment and goes backto nature to find our way back to shore.
Before we had sextants, marinecharts or GPS systems to guide us across the seas, early-day mariners had only one means of getting from port to port– nature itself.
By taking in the waves and swells, the colours of the sea and birds in flight they found their way. Natural navigation is a skill that’ll not only save you from getting lost at sea, but will also help you reconnect with the world around you.
Just swell
An in-depth knowledge of the swell allowed the ancient Polynesians to navigate round their islands on foggy nights.
When waves reflect off the shoreline, they give a clue as to what that stretch of coast entails, because the angle and strength of the returning wave is determined by the land that it meets. If, for example, the returning wave is weaker, it indicates a gentle beach. A fierce wave means cliffs or rocks lie ahead.
As the swell often remains steady for days, it can also be used to hold a course. Find out the direction the swell by lying on the deck of the boat and working out the rhythm which the boat is moving. You can also use the stars (see part one of our nat-nav series), the sun or a steady point on the horizon to check it against.
Make your mark
If you’re travelling just a short distance from the coastline, landmarks offer a simple way of working out what the sea’s is doing beneath you.
Find two landmarks on the shore which are easy to see and line up with one another, for example a church spire and a telegraph pole. Float in the ocean with the sail down or motor off. If the alignment changes, you’ll be able to work out what the water is doing beneath you.
Bright blue or yellow-green?
Two things have a major impact on the hue of the sea. The level of salt in the water for, example, determines whether the ocean is bright blue or more of a blue. The Mediterranean is known for its distinctive rich blue; this is due toits high level of salt, while the Artic is almost green because the melting ice keeps the salt content low, allowing organisms to thrive.
More useful though, is how the sea colour changes with depth - meaning you can work out how far from land you are. As you move towards land, the colour of the sea will change. For example, in yellow sand the sea will transform from a dark blue, to blue-green, to blue and finally to yellow as you reach the shore.
Follow the flock
Coastal birds all have different habits, so a good knowledge of species and their habits can offer some great hints of direction.
But the general pattern that birds head out to sea in the morning, and come back to land in the evening can offer a sure indication. Only follow flocks of birds though, individuals are as unpredictable as humans (and that’s saying something!).
Land Ahoy!
Floating debris and rubbish can give a clue as to location – though you’ll find them out of sea, the sightings will increase as you reach land.
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Bookmark
Stumble
I’d love to give this a go, but think I’d keep my maps and compass handy just in case!