Secrets of the Viking Navigators: How the Vikings Used Their Amazing Sunstones and Other Techniques to Cross the Open Ocean

by Leif K Karlsen, Marlin Greene (Designed by)

Overview

Most navigators have heard of Viking sunstones, but few realize they are more than legend. Leif Karlsen has brought them to life. He shows us how they work--now, and a thousand years ago--and what it was that led the Viking navigators to develop this unique tool for finding the direction to the sun, even when the sun is obscured by clouds or fog.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780914025610
Publisher:	Starpath Publications
Publication date:	09/13/2018
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.49(d)

Table of Contents

Part 1–A Passage to Iceland on an Original Knarr Viking Ship in the Year 988

I Become the Owner of My Own Ship

Seeking a Crew and Cargo for the Trip

“Geirfálki” Departs on Her First Voyage

Secrets of Using the Sunstone

Changeable Weather is Something You Can Depend On 29

We Complete Our First Open Ocean Crossing

To the Source of the Sunstones

On to Reykjavik

Returning to Norway

Historical Notes for Part One

Part 2–Ships, Equipment, and Navigation Techniques Used by the Vikings for Open Ocean Voyages

The Viking Oceangoing Vessel

Navigating by Sun and Crystal: The Sunstone

The Áttir, Eykt and the Horizon Board

Finding True North by the Sun

Steering by Wind and Swell

Star Navigation

Part 3–Voyages of the Vikings Across the North Atlantic as Described in the Sagas... From the Navigator's Point of View.

Map of the Viking Voyages

Following Routes Described in the Sagas

Eirik the Red’s Voyages Between Iceland and Greenland

Direct Route from Snæfellsnes, Iceland to Herjolfsness, Greenland

Hernar, Norway to Ikigait (Herjolfsness), Greenland

Where Was Vinland?

Part 4–1000 Years Later

Voyages on the “Borgundknarren” Viking Ship Replica

The Quest for an Icelandic Sunstone

Icelandic Spar Crystal is Discovered in Ancient Shipwreck

Appendices

Glossary of Terms

Bibliography

Index

Editorial Reviews

Using clues he gleaned from the Icelandic Sagas, his experience as a professional navigator, and from his voyages on "Borgunknarren"--a 60' Viking ship replica--Leif K. Karlsen reveals the secrets of Viking navigation. Karlsen has done extensive research on the Viking "sunstone" and "horizon board" and explains how they work. This is an interesting, valuable, and educational contribution to the understanding of the Vikings' success as navigators and seamen.

--Dr. Alf Lunder Knudsen, Editor Emeritus Western Viking

If "cutting edge" can be used in relation to Viking navigation, this information is definitely it. Leif Karlsen is the world's foremost scholar on the Viking sunstone. His well-researched and intelligent work on Viking navigation examines the sagas and combines that information with the experiential and practical research of just trying it out. It's a comprehensive and accessible study that's also a compelling analysis of the secrets of Viking navigators, and their unparalleled success as sea-born explorers.

--Kristine Leander, PhD, Director, Leif Erikson International Foundation

Most navigators have heard of Viking sunstones, but few realize they are more than legend. Leif Karlsen has brought them to life. He shows us how they work--now, and a thousand years ago--and what it was that led the Viking navigators to develop this unique tool for finding the direction to the sun, even when the sun is obscured by clouds or fog.

--David Burch, PhD, Director, Starpath School of Navigation

From the Publisher