5 ms·

What about Cape Bojador made it impassible for so long? I know essentially nothing about navigation or ships in general besides that they don't travel over land

What about Cape Bojador made it impassible for so long? I know essentially nothing about navigation or ships in general besides that they don't travel over land particularly well[0], so if you know of an easy to digest resource I'd really appreciate it. [0]: except near Constantinople, obviously

hardlianotion 6y ago
The Wikipedia article referenced in parent gives good detail on the problems Cape Bojador posed for early sailors.
avian 6y ago
The Wikipedia article says it’s a combination of dangerous shallows and unfavorable winds all year near the shore. The way to avoid those was to sail around it, beyond the sight of land. This was something ancient ships couldn’t do because they relied on seeing the land for navigation.
- samb1729 6y ago
  Ah, you're right. I did actually click that link but something about the way that article is written made scanning for the specific thing I was after while tired very difficult. I'll re-evaluate this perception after I've slept, but it feels like key facts are buried in storytelling in a way I don't see often on Wikipedia. Could just be me, I'm not sure. Edit: I think what I'm describing is a textbook example of a buried lede.
  - Noumenon72 6y ago
    I agree with you, it's overwritten. Would be interesting for a Wikipedia editor to explain how this tourist-history style differs from the accepted Wikipedia style.
  - avian 6y ago
    I had similar thoughts when reading the article. It's written in a quite an unusual storytelling style without clearly summarizing the key points.
- sradman 6y ago
  > The way to avoid those was to sail around it... The problem was that ships were swept out to sea and couldn't sail in any direction other than certain death (or the Americas). The Volta do Mar gave the Portuguese a safety net to experiment with navigating Cape Bojador without the certain death aspect. Careful data collection (speed/direction of the ship/wind/water-current) and vector math provided a set of sailing instructions that was akin to a set of dance steps. The Portuguese sailed around the Cape of Good Hope but they navigated Cape Bojador with an algorithm. What I find fascinating is that such a monumental moment in history is not well known.
detritus 6y ago
OP's first link qualifies as an easy to digest resource on the subject. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Bojador https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Bojador)
sradman 6y ago
The book Atlantic is where I came across it. Sand shoals force ships into the currents of the North Atlantic Gyre which the Portuguese mastered before tackling the Cape Bojador problem; see Volta do Mar [1] which has a great diagram. The problem was solved with math. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volta_do_mar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volta_do_mar
- samb1729 6y ago
  I appreciate your terse explanation! The "Historical significance" section on the Cape Bojador is impenetrable in my current tired state.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

hardlianotion 6y ago

The Wikipedia article referenced in parent gives good detail on the problems Cape Bojador posed for early sailors.

avian 6y ago

The Wikipedia article says it’s a combination of dangerous shallows and unfavorable winds all year near the shore. The way to avoid those was to sail around it, beyond the sight of land. This was something ancient ships couldn’t do because they relied on seeing the land for navigation.

samb1729 6y ago
Ah, you're right. I did actually click that link but something about the way that article is written made scanning for the specific thing I was after while tired very difficult. I'll re-evaluate this perception after I've slept, but it feels like key facts are buried in storytelling in a way I don't see often on Wikipedia. Could just be me, I'm not sure. Edit: I think what I'm describing is a textbook example of a buried lede.
- Noumenon72 6y ago
  I agree with you, it's overwritten. Would be interesting for a Wikipedia editor to explain how this tourist-history style differs from the accepted Wikipedia style.
- avian 6y ago
  I had similar thoughts when reading the article. It's written in a quite an unusual storytelling style without clearly summarizing the key points.
sradman 6y ago
> The way to avoid those was to sail around it... The problem was that ships were swept out to sea and couldn't sail in any direction other than certain death (or the Americas). The Volta do Mar gave the Portuguese a safety net to experiment with navigating Cape Bojador without the certain death aspect. Careful data collection (speed/direction of the ship/wind/water-current) and vector math provided a set of sailing instructions that was akin to a set of dance steps. The Portuguese sailed around the Cape of Good Hope but they navigated Cape Bojador with an algorithm. What I find fascinating is that such a monumental moment in history is not well known.

detritus 6y ago

OP's first link qualifies as an easy to digest resource on the subject. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Bojador https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Bojador)

sradman 6y ago

The book Atlantic is where I came across it. Sand shoals force ships into the currents of the North Atlantic Gyre which the Portuguese mastered before tackling the Cape Bojador problem; see Volta do Mar [1] which has a great diagram. The problem was solved with math. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volta_do_mar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volta_do_mar

samb1729 6y ago
I appreciate your terse explanation! The "Historical significance" section on the Cape Bojador is impenetrable in my current tired state.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]