With GPS and hundreds of years worth of advancements in technology.

and a much, much, much higher percentage of them make it across alive.

And that was in the Great Lakes, where the largest waves hit about 30 feet. On the open ocean, the largest waves regularly surpass 80 feet, and can sometimes go over 100

Yeah but imagine experiencing that shit for the first time, in pitch darkness, in the middle of the ocean. No wonder they believed in gods.