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On Sunday I attended the funeral of a chap who had been to sea on schooners before and during the 2nd World War. He had no formal training or qualifications, started out as a dogsbody but rose to be Mate. That doesn't quite have the connotations it would on a more modern small cargo ship, but for the purposes of local trade within the Caribbean he was accepted as being entitled to the position he held.
Example: Leave the island on a turtling trip to the Serrannas Keys (Columbia possession these days); set sail due South until sighting Man-O'-Wars (large birds) and follow them as the sun sets.
Next morning, look-out for discoloured waters indicating shoals; if the colour changes rapidly but no land is in sight, then turn either East or West until the shoals are passed; head South again.
Follow the same procedure until actual land, in the form of rocks sticking up above the sea, is seen.
From the shape and size of the rocks he would know what and where they were; if not the intended destination, then again head East or West until safely around the rocks and continue the voyage.
Not very efficient, but when it didn't matter if the ship arrived today, tomorrow, or next month, it worked and it was cheap.
Who needs either a sextant or GPS just follow the birds!
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