From Colin Nicholson, Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK
Stone Age seafarers had a good understanding of local conditions, wind directions and the local geography, without having the use of compasses. I would suggest that although it would have been difficult to find Malta from Italy, it would have been much easier to find Italy from Malta. It required only one sailor with sufficient skill who found themselves blown towards Malta to wait until the wind was in the opposite direction, then make their way home again (Letters, 14 March).
Their family and friends had to wait only until the conditions were the same as on their first trip to repeat the journey.
