Knowing Where You Are Going

Having a known direction makes navigation by the stars a much easier prospect. Moreover, using a combination of landmarks with the alignment of the boat, its mast and simple astronomical observations of the sun, moon or stars, a navigator can find his position and can also use them to maintain a bearing direction which can be followed over vast distances well beyond the sight of land. Utilizing multiple objects and observations allows navigators to travel with a much higher degree of precision. Furthermore, knowledge of the prevailing wind patterns and ocean currents could be utilized by implementing the use of anchor and sounding stones which would add another aspect of accuracy and proficiency to wayfaring. Although unevenly spaced and named rather than numbered, they do provide an accurate projected direction to culturally significant land masses in the Pacific in addition to ancient cities in Central and South America.