South Africa, July 1 -- You are convinced you are close to land, and that is based on the years of sailing the Seven Seas having cultivated an instinct that you can feel in your bones. Trouble is, clouds cloak the sky's natural navigational instruments, and you cannot see much past your hand, so which way exactly is the shore?

As you peer into the vast darkness of the ocean, a light appears on the horizon... It disappears. Then appears. The welcoming blink of a lighthouse sends a relief to your soul that it has been spared, your choice not left to chance. You now have the right information to chart your path to the safety of the shore. The lighthouse has provided two key data points: the location of the shore and insight into the coastli...