The Barefoot Navigator

by Jack Lagan

The Barefoot Navigator is the most innovative book about marine navigation for decades. Jack Lagan believes there is nothing so valuable at sea as standing on a deck and just knowing where you are using special knowledge about the sea and the sky and using your senses--in other words, practical technology-free navigation.

Part 1 looks at the navigation achievements of the ancient seafarers--the Pacific islanders, the Vikings, the Phoenicians, the Arabs and the Chinese. Just how did the South Pacific islanders manage to populate every habitable island in an area bigger than North America? And did the Phoenicians really circumnavigate Africa 2,000 years before Vasco de Gama?

Part 2 explains how to use the wind, swell, sun and stars to estimate position and hold a course. And how sea breezes, isolated clouds and seabirds can make a landfall safer.

Part 3. shows how you can use DIY devices to calculate latitude, obtain bearings and estimate longitude.

Part 4 describes how all these techniques can be used in survival situations

The Barefoot Navigator is about wayfinding from what you can see around you and what you have in your head. It will fascinate navigators and landlubbers alike.

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2006

Reviews

[Andy]

I've been curious about navigation and taking a more hands-on approach to it. Watching videos on how to use a sextant properly, this book has come up repeatedly so I gave it a go.

I enjoyed the read, informative and entertaining (especially if you like using the tools that nature offers all around you). While all of it was of interest, the sections on using the stars as navigational aids was my favorite. That said, I will definitely try to keep some of the other tips and tricks regarding wind and swell in mind as I practice my navigational skills without sneaking a peak at my chartplotter or GPS.

[Albert Val]

It is so interesting to read about how ancient civilisations were able to navigate without the advanced technology we are using today, to investigate about their techniques, and to develop your own knowledge using the tides, the wind, the stars, while developing your own survival tools. This is a book I would highly recommend to anyone interested in sailing. I acquired the book at the National Maritime Museum in London, while attending and exhibition about the 300 years of the Longitude Act, fact that is also covered in the book!

[Philski]

Interesting book on historical primitive navigation techniques. Mostly focused on the ancients, I was hoping they'd at least reflect on the navigation skills of the 1400-1600 AD era. But interesting nonetheless.

[Victoria]

Don't know if I'll ever put this to good use but it seemed like a good thing to have.

[Rachel Bayles]

Makes the reader appreciate how amazing our ancestors were to get there and back again.