NAVIGATION
TIME TIL SUNDOWN
NAVIGATION — TIME TIL SUNDOWN
When battle is about to be joined, the sun looming upon the horizon, a prudent captain may ask the master many a question about wind, tide, moon and importantly time to sundown. An approximated method follows the use of the width of your hand to measure the distance between the horizon and the sun. One hand span approximates to one hour. The width of each finger approximates to fifteen minutes.
SUMMARY
- Extend your arm fully.
- Hold your hand on top of the horizon.
- Each finger is 15 minutes.
- Each handspan is one hour.
A Note...
Aspects of navigation are an integral part of any ship in the age of sail. The hardships of such often mentioned the naval adventure fiction series "Ships of War" by Bradley John. From time to time, you too will be confronted (perhaps even confounded) by the nautical calculations suddenly presented, often in need to save the ship and their lives. Naturally, they were not afforded the ease of modern technologies such as GPS, computers or even rudimentary calculators.
