Actually, celestial navigation would be a misnomer . Primitive navigation might be a better
description as we had no sextant, no compass, no watch or any electronic equipment , not even a depth finder. We did carry basic navigational tools on
board in a ditch bag sealed by the U. S. Navy in case of emergency. Fortunately, we never needed to use them but
they were on board. The instruments were
sealed because we had to prove that they were not used at any time throughout
the voyage. We were outfitted with an
Argos transmitter which reported to the
Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. our location throughout the
circumnavigation.
The global circumnavigation of the sailing vessel Globe Star
was the dream of college professor, Marvin Creamer who believed he could
circumnavigate using only crude navigational skills that had been passed down
from generation to generation.
Marvin Creamer studied extensively the stars and planets. He believes ancient civilizations could have
sailed the oceans thousands of years before Columbus and the purpose of the
trip was to prove this point.
Prior to this circumnavigation, Creamer had crossed the Atlantic
several times making near perfect landfalls each time using this same
navigational method of no instrumentation.
Marv was in no way latitude sailing which would have been an
easy way to make landfalls by sailing North or South to a know latitude and
then heading East or West until he reached his destination.
Marv used not only astrological positions but the wave
action above the surface of the water and also the heave of the underlying
swells in relation to the direction we travelled. He kept records of the estimated water
temperature and also estimated salinity by tasting it as we did not have a
thermometer or a water test kit. Water
color was also a very important factor in Marv’s calculations.
Our estimated speed was determined by observing the time it
would take water bubbles to move from the bow to the stern. In counting the seconds it takes for this to
take place one can determine quite accurately as to how fast the vessel is
travelling through the water but not necessarily the speed at which the boat is
travelling over the bottom. Set and
drift can be determined if you have the proper charts that give you approximate
set and drift values.
All of these factors combined to give a dead reckoning
position. For many years I too navigated
strictly using dead reckoning. I had
made countless trips across many oceans and travelled great distances before I
bought a sextant and learned how to use it.
Perhaps this is why I was invited on the trip. Both Marv and I shared enthusiasm for this
type of navigating.
Modern electronics have made mere mortal men and women great
navigators, just turn on your GPS and follow the magenta line.
In my mind, I believe Marv Creamer to be the greatest
navigator that ever lived. To my
knowledge no one has ever challenged his abilities as a navigator and it was a
privilege to be a part of his historical voyage.
