Given the seasonal wind pattern in Ymirea, it is common for seafarers to travel south in the winter, north in the summer.
Navigation is done without compasses, there being no such thing in Ymirea. One navigates by the sun, moon and stars. The central piece of equipment is a windrose, which is used to determine latitude by the height of the sun or the pole star. Lenses are used to locate the sun when the weather is overscast. Maps and books are used to navigate, and good ones may be very valuable.
The greatest of all dangers while seafaring is facing an attack from the creatures of the deeps. Orcs, seawyrms, whalefish and kraken all imperil seafarers.
Technically, sailors belong to the bellatore rank of society. In practice, only a minority are functional members of their estate.
Around the Mare Interior - in the Free Kingdoms, Clemencia and the Cargan Empire - the traditional mark of a sailor is gathering one's hair into a queue, which is often tarred. Sailors also tend have bare feet.
The pure Morath kingdoms have few traditions regarding sailors, and the Naamlendings traditionally consider themselves to be sailors, one and all.
Atrahasites are passable sailors, but are most noted for their fine navigators.
The advanced logistics and sheer size of the Cargan empire has enabled them to launch both the greatest ships of the known world, and vast fleets without parallel.
However, It is said that the only traditions of the Cargan Navy are whiskey, sodomy and the lash. Maritime pursuits have never been held in high esteem, and people take to the sea because circumstances command it.
Javigans are part of the Clemencian empire, but have a different sailing tradition. The Javigerans have harried Haramesh merchants along the transoceanic trade routes for centuries, plundering the finest goods of two continents.
Naamlandic sailors are generally considered to be the finest, the only plausible contestants are the Javigerans. Naamlandic sailing traditions predate their people's existence as nations, as they came sailing to Naamlands from the east.