The impact of the scientific revolution on sailing and maritime exploration?

Question

The impact of the scientific revolution on sailing and maritime exploration?

Answer 1

Well, GPS is really cool, and getting to where you want to go is much easier.  GPS requires that General Relativity work, that rockets can accelerate in a vacuum, and so on.

Satellites can help us explore the oceans all at once.  Ocean heights can be measured to less than an inch.  Temperatures can be measured to less than a degree.  Radios can be attached to marine life, and tracked everywhere. And so on.

Dynamically stabilized sailboats have totally kicked old sailing speed records in the pants.