Notable new books for the holidays (Part I)

The Riddle of the Compass By Amir D. Aczel The compass is so commonplace that few of us are really aware of what a revolutionary instrument it actually was in the history of maritime trade. Most of us vaguely understand variation and deviation and know the difference between magnetic and true, but how many know the fascinating history of this tool that all sailors rely on? Most important, who would've thought it could be so interesting? Aczel's premise is that the rise of maritime commercialism in Europe during the 13th century, in places like Venice, Spain and Britain, was the…
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Notable New Books: The Barefoot Navigator

The Barefoot Navigator is a cleverly written little book that combines the history of the ancient art of navigation with the practical application of those techniques today. Author Jack Lagan explores the achievements of the ancients - the Polynesians, Phoenicians, Arabs, Vikings and Chinese. He discusses methods they employed before even the most rudimentary technology was available. Lagan demonstrates how ancient navigators used wind, swell, sun and stars, along with birds and even marine mammals to estimate their position and hold course until they made safe landfall. The book is filled with entertaining quotes and historical snippets. In addition, it…
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Fare increase for Panama Canal

The Panama Canal will no longer be an inexpensive way totransport a yacht between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans if an expected increase in the toll takes effect this spring. Instead of the relatively cheap $650 transit fee ($250 plus a $400 "measurement fee") required until now, the new fee will be $1,500 after May 1, according to officials with the Panama Canal Commission. The fare increase, which has outraged the world yachting community since it was first announced in January, is being described as necessary by the Commission to balance rising maintenance and operation costs. Panama is set to…
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Offshore telemedicine services explained

From Ocean Navigator #99 July/August 1999 To the editor: Thank you for summarizing the services of the Maritime Health Services Division of Global Medical Systems, Inc. (MHS), in the recent story by William Boyd on telemedicine ("Doctor on Call," Issue No. 97, Ocean Voyager). There are just a few points that I wish to mention. In the text, MHS is referred to as a subsidiary of AEA International. As of June 1998 MHS has been independent of AEA International but has maintained full access to the services of this leading provider of international medical assistance. Dr. Brown and I now…
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