The Barefoot Navigator: Wayfinding with the Skills of the Ancients

by Mr Jack Lagan

'Navigation with sextant and almanac is as user-friendly as a corneredrat.'

Barefoot Navigator introducesus to a unique take on navigation – using the skills of the ancients and technology-free techniques, we learn how to navigate using the sun, sea, wind and stars, and even the flight patterns of ocean birds.

The first part of this absorbing book recounts a colourful history of seafarers and their navigation techniques. How did the Polynesians manage to populate an area of ocean larger than North America simply by analysing clouds,currents and wind direction? How did the Vikings routinely travel on the notorious stretches of water between Iceland, Greenland and Scandinavia? The second part shows how to use these ancient techniques to supplement today's navigational hardware, especially in survival situations.

Fascinating history, useful advice, enjoyable writing, and different to every other navigation reference out there, this second edition has been beautifully packaged in a hardback format, with new illustrations and thoroughly revised text.

Genres: Nonfiction

481 pages, Kindle Edition

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.