Captain Matthew Flinders sailed near the end of the Age of Discovery. Why are people so interested in those years from about 1400 to 1800? Maybe it is because of how much was accomplished without modern equipment and technology. Just compare what sailing was like for those explorers.

COMMUNICATION

Now: Satellites for phone. Internet for news and information.

Then: No communication for weeks and months, and then only when encountering a passing ship or arriving in a port

RULES

Then and Now: For each crew member there are places and times for duties, for meals, and for sleep. There are rules for how to behave and who to obey.

SPEED

Now: Engines keep a ship at a constant speed and arriving on schedule.

Then: Depended upon current and wind. Hard to know if a journey would take a few weeks or a few months.

FOOD

Now: Refrigerators allow a ship to keep a supply and variety of food.

Then: Fresh food was used up quickly. Foods that would last aboard ship also did not provide all the nutrients and vitamins needed to stay healthy. A constant diet of weak beer, hard tack (flour biscuits), and salted and dried meat meant sailors were often sick or weak.

REPAIR

Now: Stainless steel, aluminum, and plastics don’t rust and rot.

Then: Ships were made of wood and canvas. So sailors were also painters and menders.

SAFETY

Now: Strict laws about safe work conditions and lifesaving equipment

Then: Climbing masts, working with ropes, hauling heavy sails, and working with heavy timbers led to a lot of injuries. Many sailors did not know how to swim, and ships didn’t carry adequate lifesaving equipment or lifeboats.

NAVIGATION

Now: GPS provides exact location. Computer programs use that information to show routes. Radar warns of other ships, obstacles, and land. Sonar shows depth and underwater hazards.

Then: Sharp eyes kept a lookout. Position was calculated by sighting the position of Sun and stars. Depth was measured with weighted rope.