Circumnavigating
the globe is nothing new, but still there has been no electric
navigation. Man has been exploring
the oceans of the world for hundreds of years. As
explorers ventured farther seeking knowledge and wealth
and boats became faster and more reliable a successful circumnavigation
became inevitable.
As
technology improved ships were scheduled not only for
cargo but passages were possible.
Cargo could be delivered on time and cheaper than
before. Luxury passenger cruises followed.
All of this was only possible because of the successes
of the early explorers and marine architects. This
period of discovery is known as the Great Age of
Exploration. Solar Navigator heralds a new age of
technological discovery aiming to prove electric
passages can be a reality.
Sir
Ernest Shackleton - Antarctic explorer
After Captain Scott died during an attempt to
reach the South Pole in 1912, Sir Ernest
Shackleton (1874–1922) chose to tackle the
challenge of Antarctica in a different way. He
decided he would attempt to journey across the
icy continent from one side to the other via the
South Pole.
Captain
James Cook
Find out about Captain James Cook, 18th century
explorer and navigator. Cook's achievements in
mapping the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia
radically changed our understanding of world
geography.
Captain
Scott - Antarctic explorer
In 1901-04 Captain Robert Falcon Scott
(1868-1912) was the first person to explore
Antarctica extensively by land. His last
mission to the South Pole ended in tragedy and
only missed being the first to this famous
landmark (compass bearing) by days.
Christopher
Columbus
What did Columbus want to do? Why did he want to
sail west? And what exactly did he find?
(not to be
confused with Joshua Slocum's solo
circumnavigation)
Horatio
Nelson 1758-1805
Horatio Nelson had a passionate belief in his
ability to become a hero. His victories and
great courage caught the public imagination, and
he was indeed considered a hero, both in his own
lifetime and in the Victorian period following
his death.
John
and Sebastian Cabot
John Cabot (c1450-1498) was an experienced
Italian seafarer who came to live in England
during the reign of Henry VII. In 1497 he sailed
west from Bristol hoping to find a shorter route
to Asia, a land believed to be rich in gold,
gems and other luxuries. Find out about his
life, acheivements and more...
Peter
the Great, reigned 1682-1725
Tsar Peter I of Russia is more usually described
as 'Peter the Great'. As a young man, he
travelled to Europe in 1697-8 to study new
developments in technology, especially
shipbuilding
Sir
Francis Drake, 1542-1596
Francis Drake was an experienced and daring
seafarer. Among many adventures, the 'famous
voyage', his successful circumnavigation of the
world between 1577 and 1580 ensured that he
would be one of the best remembered figures of
Tudor England
Sir
John Franklin 1786-1847
Sir JohnFranklin was an officer in the Royal
Navy and an Arctic explorer.Although he took
part in the great sea battle of Trafalgar, he is
best remembered for his surveys of the Arctic.
Sir
Walter Ralegh, 1554-1618
During his own lifetime, Walter Ralegh (Raleigh)
was one of the best-known men in England. He was
a courtier, politician, soldier, seaman,
explorer, businessman, philosopher, historian
and poet.
Prince
Henry the Navigator
The man
chiefly responsible for Portugal's age of
exploration was Prince Henry the Navigator, the
third son of King Joao I (John) and his English
wife, Queen Philippa of Lancaster. Henry was
born in 1394
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