Your phone dies mid-trip, or the battery drains faster than you planned. Now the only question that matters is: where am I? Without GPS, guessing is not a plan, and one random decision can push you far from shore. The sea, though, gives you plenty to read. Kuwaiti fishermen crossed these waters for generations without electronics, working from fixed landmarks, a compass, simple arithmetic, and hard-won experience. This guide covers the practical basics of locating yourself without GPS, and how to prepare before you leave the dock.
Look up and find something you recognise on land. Kuwait's coastline is full of permanent marks: towers, refinery stacks, telecom masts, and tall buildings. The islands give the clearest references, with Failaka, Miskan, and Umm Al Maradim standing out from a distance. Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports are just as useful, because their facilities and berths are visible far offshore.
Line up two or three known landmarks at different angles and you have boxed in your position. They shrink and cluster as you move out, so take bearings early and repeat them after every turn.
Dead reckoning means drawing your own track: heading from the compass, speed, and time run. It is not exact, but it narrows the area and points you home.
With a depth sounder, or even a weighted line, you can read the water beneath you. Depth changes follow a known pattern as you approach shore, and the bottom tells a story: mud, sand, rock, or coral. Experienced hands recognise a spot from the feel of the line. Tides shift the depth too, so numbers change between rising and falling tide.
Wind and current move you even when you are sitting still, so watch both. Note the wind direction, and remember that current strengthens as the tide changes. Tide times for Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports are published in the B7R app, which helps when you work out your position and plan the run back.
Do not stake everything on one phone. Carry a compass, a notebook, and a pencil, and keep the notebook dry. Write down your start point, headings, times, and the landmarks you passed. If the phone shuts down, that notebook becomes your only chart. Know your way home before you run farther offshore than you need to.
Preparation is the largest part of staying safe. Tell someone ashore your plan: where you are going, when, with whom, and when you expect to be back. If you are late, they know to act. Check fuel, carry extra water, pack a spare charger, and check the weather and sea state before you commit. Keep the emergency SOS button within reach, but the best safety tool is a plan someone else knows about.
The sea does not forgive rush, but it rewards preparation. Go out knowing your position, your way home, and your backups. Download the B7R app, a free marine guide with tide times, sea state, a fish guide, a catch log, fishing seasons, navigation tools, and an SOS button, on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.q8dm.b7r