This book is fantastic as an overall introduction to Pacific landfaring/navigation. As a standalone book I do not think it is good for learning how to use these navigation systems yourself, but if combined with knowledge from the internet and other books, this book provides a lot of vital details which I have never seen published anywhere else.
This book also is unique in the fact that it focuses not on a single system of navigation but the navigation systems of the Polynesians, Carolinians, etc. etc. There are many differences between the systems which is interesting not only from a historical standpoint but a navigational standpoint.
Edited to add:
This book covers not only "star course" navigation methods, but also methods for navigating by observing general swell patterns in open ocean (Up to 3 or 4), local swell patterns i.e. reflected swell or shadow swell near an island, how to estimate drift due to current or wind, etc. etc. The author also talks about wind compasses which I don't believe has been covered in detail in any other book. Rare information.
Many concrete examples are given in great detail, for example how the author aligned specific trees and rocks just before losing sight of the departure island in order to be in exactly the right corridor to start using the star course to the destination. There are very clear diagrams of how particular stars are aligned with particular parts of the boat or canoe in order to maintain the correct direction. He talks about how to deal with bearing error when a "steering star" is too high above the horizon to be perfectly accurate, and he also talks about how to deal with cloudy nights where the star you are heading for is not visible (Aligning stars other than straight ahead of the boat. Very difficult stuff!)
The back of the book is full of very detailed star courses with the modern names and the Islander's traditional names for the stars, as well as the declination / right ascension. The author also explains in modern mathematical / astronomical terms why these navigation systems work.
Throughout the book there are many well drawn illustrations that make everything clear and easy to understand, as well as photographs of rare traditional boats, construction methods and old navigators.
Using techniques I learned from this book (And several other sources), using a simulator I have been able to fly without any navigation instruments and arrive at tiny specs of land with excellent precision. With very good understanding of the principals this book introduces it is possible to create your own star courses at most latitudes on the planet.
This is one of the most well researched, well executed books I have ever read in my life. The content is somewhat dry at times, if you are not a navigation freak, but if you are like me, and love to know where you are at any given moment, you'll never get tired of this.
Buy this book, you won't regret it.
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