Rutter (nautical)

Under Seebuch, Rutter (English), Routier (French), Leeskaertan or later Paskaertan ( Flemish), Roteiro ( Portuguese) or Derroterro (Spanish ) refers to certain precursors for later sailing directions.

Particulars

Nautical books or sailing instructions contain specially for sailors and helmsmen imaginary notes on courses, water depths, bottom textures, tidal currents, harbor times, anchorages and ports, distances and dangers off the coast. In the 16th century illustrations were added simple style, the so-called musical settings. They differ in this respect from the so-called sea - Itineraren from which were written in diary form of travelers and can certainly also contain navigational information, but are written for a non -nautical reader and can not necessarily be used for navigational skills and want.

History

The oldest known European work of this kind - apart from ancient predecessors - is the Italian Compasso de Navegare from the year 1296, whose writing can be, however, recognized earlier based text -immanent criteria to about two generations. The manuscript provides it were, the archetype for a number of similar portolans of the Mediterranean, which appeared in the following centuries.

The transcript of the oldest north-west European Sailing Instructions, the so-called Low German Seebuches, can be dated to the year 1470. It is a compilation of texts of various origins and dating, the earliest of which is based on internal evidence to be up to one and a half centuries earlier date, therefore, to the first half of the 14th century.

Between 1502/1510 was published in Rouen the first northern European printed such work, the Routier de la mer, which had a significant impact on the spread from 1520 to 1643 in numerous editions Grand Routier et Pilotage of Piere Garcie. The Routier de la mer appeared in 1528 as Rutter of the Sea in English translation by Robert Copland. Richard proude 1541 issued in the island kingdom of the New Rutter of the Sea for the North Partes.

Start " Dit is de Kaerte van ...", Leeskaert and later referred to by the introduction of nautical charts as Paskaert: In Dutch, the works, mostly their title to the input formula. The first Kärt vander Zee appeared in print in 1532.

Another notable Derroterro was taken on a 1680/81 carried out the plunder of the buccaneers Bartholomew Sharp in the South Pacific from the captured Spanish ship Rosario. Today, the plant obtained in the Naval Library of the British Ministry of Defence showing the coastline even in their natural coloring.