How to Get Bearings With the Watch Method

You and several other survivors of a plane crash are lying in a life raft in the middle of the ocean. All around you, dark blue water stretches to the very edges of the horizon. You’ve been waiting for 3 days for rescuers to find you, but none have appeared. Now, you’ve all decided it might be time to try directing the raft toward land—but you have no idea which way is north, south, east or west. If only you could make a decent estimate, perhaps you’d survive. Never fear—keep your head about you and look around for an old-fashioned analog watch. If you’re farther north than 60 degrees latitude or farther south than 30 degrees latitude, you can use it to get your bearings. Here’s how.

Things You'll Need

• Analog watch

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Aim the hour hand of the watch at the sun.

   • 2

     Look at the watch face carefully and note the position of the hour hand and 12 o’clock. Now note the point exactly in between these 2 spots.

   • 3

     If you are in the southern hemisphere, south of 30 degrees latitude, the point halfway between the hour hand and 12 o’clock is approximately true north.

   • 4

     If you are in the northern hemisphere, north of 60 degrees latitude, the point halfway between the hour hand and 12 o’clock is approximately true south.

   • 5

     Use your newfound knowledge of north or south to navigate the raft in the appropriate direction.