Do not miss this book! Tracks in the Sea~the mapping of the oceans by Matthew Fontaine Maury
Brilliantly written by Chester G. Hearn.
Navigation was uncertain and knowledge of prevailing winds and currents had advanced little since Columbus. Hundred of ships were lost each year; the cost in property and lives was enormous.
Maury changed all that. In a brilliant eighteen-year effort between 1842 and 1861 he transformed the oceans from trackless hazards into a network of highways marked by dependable winds and currents and showed shipmasters how to shave weeks and even months from voyages. In a world interconnected by maritime commerce, Maury's work was critically important not just to America but to all nations.
Maury's statue and much of Maury's work resides at the home of the vice president. Picture of book cover in my Frappr.
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Skip:
I believe he was mentioned in the book "The Gulf Stream" by Stan Ulanski. I finished it this winter during my boring rotator cuff rehab. I'll check out Tracks in the Sea. I love that kind of stuff.
Bob23
Go for it, it is a good one. I had though that the book may have been a wee bit boring. No way man.!!
I popped her out in two nights. Hope the rehab takes. skip.
Thanks for the recommendation Skip. I bought it new from Amazon for $8.65 with free shipping. Can't beat that! I'm going to have to build some more shelves for all these sailing books. I am finishing up Tracks In The Sea this morning. (It has been raining all weekend.) I have enjoyed the book with it's history, science, sailing and politics. Some men just amaze me with their insight and burning desire to accomplish goals.
Again, thanks for the recommendation.
Mike
You found a deal and I'm happy you enjoyed the story of how the seas were mapped.
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