The Circumnavigation of Globe Star/Marvin Creamer

Several weeks ago, over coffee, I was speaking with a man who was interested in hearing about my experiences as crew aboard “Globe Star” and the use of celestial navigation instead of the more common forms of navigation in use today. 

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.