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Date Posted: 11:21:34 10/10/08 Fri
Author: Nicky
Subject: Re: Philosophy, GPS and the sailor
In reply to: kamikaze 's message, "Re: Philosophy, GPS and the sailor" on 14:14:22 10/08/08 Wed

Kamikaze, this was exactly my point. We use all these crutches to protect us, ultimately, from our fear of being in a situation we can't handle and not being able to call for the magic backup. Some of the happiest moments of my life have been hiking without a mobile phone or any means of contacting civilization. Jay talks about the dream of being in a sailboat and how this generally doesn't involve the chugging engine. Mine doesn't include an illuminated gps screen either.....That's not to say I don't use one, but the ideal would be not to. To continue the comparison with engines, reliance on GPS can lead to accidents too. I heard a story of some really experienced boat delivery guys taking some shiny new fizz boat to its new owners. They punched some waypoints into the gps and chilled out. Didn't notice the first buoy under the hull. The second ripped a massive hole in the bow and sunk the boat. Likewise, the number of people that rely on gps operated autopilots and don't keep a good watch, it's scarey!

The little I've read about ancient Hawaiian techniques of way-making using star paths leaves me in total awe. Now that is real skill.

Also, although the technology improves, gps systems rely on often outdated chart information. Certainly in the UK some info comes from Victorian times and only gets corrected when an alteration or error is discovered by accident. So the ability to use our senses and grasp other more "primitive" means of navigation seems really important. And not really something that is taught enough at regular sailing schools in my opinion.

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