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The Age of Sail: A Time when the Fortunes of Nations and Lives of Seamen Literally Turned with the Winds Their Ships Encountered at Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 September 2010

William E. Carter  and
Merri S. Carter
William E. Carter*
Affiliation:
(University of Florida)
Merri S. Carter
Affiliation:
(U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station)
*
(Email: bcarter@ce.ufl.edu)
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Abstract

This paper examines the evidence to support the view that the inability of seamen to determine accurate longitude at sea in sailing ships was a major factor in the loss of ships and crews that was effectively solved by the introduction of the marine chronometer. It concludes that this was not the case and that a more compelling factor for the safety of ships was the introduction of mechanical propulsion systems.

Keywords

LongitudeDava SobelJohn HarrisonSailing Ships
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 63 , Issue 4 , October 2010 , pp. 717 - 731
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 2010

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References

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