ENGLISH CHANNEL : DANGERS, BEARINGS, &c. Bound to any port in the Channel, what latitude would you make? Why would you do so? Because I should then avoid the tide, which sets to the Northward; and I should, in that parallel, strike soundings and find sand and ooze. In thick weather, how close would you approach Scilly? Not nearer than 56 fathoms, for then I should be about 31 leagues from the rocks. How does the Bishop Rock bear from St. Agnes'? About W. N., 41⁄2 miles. How would you know whether you were to the North or South of Scilly? I should find to the North of Scilly that there was mud and shells, and water varying from 64 to 50 fathoms; but to the South of it there is deeper water, and not mud, but speckled sand. How would you know when you are nearing the French coast in thick foggy weather? I should find the water deeper than on the English side of the Channel, and at the bottom large stones, with grey and red sand. What dangers are there about the Land's end? The Wolf Rock, Runnel Stone, Seven Stones, Longships, and Brissons. The LONGSHIPS are steep and cragged rocks, bearing about N.N.W. W., 3 miles from Toll-pendan-penwith; on it is a light-house. The principal bearings from it are Longships to Wolf Rock, S.W. 71⁄2 miles. to Seven Stones, W.N.W......15 31 In passing the Longships, and sailing North-eastward, how would you clear the Brissons? I would not let the light be to the Westward of S.S.W. W. I would then pass them about 1 mile to the Westward. SEVEN STONES are a cluster of dangerous rocks (having a light-vessel with two lights) between Scilly and the Land's end. Seven Stones to St. Agnes', W.S.W.......14 miles. WOLF ROCK is steep on all sides, and bears about E.S.E. & E., 21 miles from Scilly lighthouse; W.N.W. from the Lizard. To clear it, keep the Lizard lights in one. RUNNEL STONE. To clear this rock sail South of it. The two beacons at Porth warrow must not be brought in one until the Longships bears N. by W. To sail to the North of it, the beacons as before, until the Longships lighthouse is just open of the sand. How does Ushant bear from Scilly? S. E., 97 iniles. How do the the Lizard lights bear in one? W. N. and E. 2 S., leading clear of the Wolf Rock to the West, and the Manacles to the East. How near would you stand in to the Lizard? Not nearer than 46 fathoms. What is the danger off the Lizard, and how would you clear it? The Stag Rocks, which lie to the S.W. of the Lizard, and have from 5 to 9 fathoms close to them. To clear it, keep Innis Head in sight to the Eastward of the Beast, and Godolphin Hill open of Meantale Point, which will lead to the west of them. ENTRANCE TO FALMOUTH. Ships bound from the Westward to this point, after arriving off the Lizard, should steer E.N.E., keeping the Lizard light open of Black Head, until St. Anthony's light bears N.N.E.; then steer for it, leaving it on the starboard side, and not any nearer than two cables' lengths; keep your lead going, and do not come nearer to St. Mawe's Bank than ten fathoms. After you pass St. Anthony's light, steer N. by W. until you fall into 15 or 16 fathoms; you will then be in a fair way; change your course to N. E. for Carrick Roads, and anchor as soon as the centre of Falmouth town lights bear W.N.W., and St. Mawe's Castle E.S.E. Nearly in the middle of the entrance of Falmouth Harbour lies the Black Rock: it appears at half-tide, and has a beacon on it ships should always go to the Eastward of it. Anthony's is a revolving light. What danger is there off Plymouth? St. The Eddystone Rock, bearing from Rame Head S.W. S., 8 miles, and from Bolt Head W.N.W. W., 18 miles: it has on it a fixed light: there are from 30 to 33 fathoms between it and the land; and to the Westward, in the stream of the Eddystone, are 40 fathoms towards the Lizard. How would you proceed with your ship into Plymouth? Having passed the Lizard Lights, steer E. N. until you sight the Eddystone; bring it to bear S. W., and steer N.E. until you sight the Breakwater Light, (which is on the Western point of the Breakwater); bring it to bear N.E. by E. E., and steer for it, keeping that course until you open the lights of Cawsand Town; after which bring it to bear E.N.E.; pass it at a good cable's length on the starboard side, and anchor as soon as the light shows white. How far up Channel would you proceed before you sighted the land? Not any farther than the Start. What sort of a light is the Start, and what dangers are off it? A revolving light, with a brilliant flash every minute: off it are the Skerries and the Peartree Rocks. The Peartree Rocks (some visible) extend of a mile to the Westward of the Start. The Skerries may be cleared by keeping Peraul point open of the Start W. 1 N. St. Agnes' light may be distinguished from the Start light thus: The Start light revolves every minute with bright flashes, whereas St. Agnes' light revolves every minute steadily. What dangers are there off Portland? The Shambles and Race. A bright light is shown on the Shambles. How do Portland Lights bear when they are in one? N.N.W. W., and lead between the Shambles and Race. Between Portland and the Casquets. The Casquets are three lighthouses erected in a triangular form, and bear from one another as follows: From the South-eastern to the North-eastern, N.W. W.; from the North-western to the North-eastern E. & N.; and from the North-eastern to the South-eastern, S.W. W.; they will consequently appear as two lights when seen in either of these three directions. They are three revolving lights, and are all of the same height. They bear from Start point S.E. by S. 19 leagues, and from Portland 15 leagues. Off St. Alban's Head the ground is dangerous for three quarters of a mile. What mark have you for leading through the Needles Channel? Hurst Lights in one bearing N.E. by E. E., lead through the Needles Channel. What sort of a light is St. Catherine's, and is there any danger off it? St. Catherine's is a fixed light; off it is the Rocken-end, a ridge of rocks extending rather more than two miles. Do not stand in to it nearer than 22 fathoms. How would you proceed into Spithead ? Ships from the westward, bound into Spithead, should keep St. Catherine's Point open until the Nab Lights bear about N. by E. E.; then steer for them, keeping the light vessel on your port side; then steer North till the Warner bears N.W. N., or N.W. by N.; pass it on the port side, and then steer N.N.W., which will take you between the Horse on the starboard side, and No-Man's on the port side; keep on this course till South Sea Castle bears N.E. by E. and Kicker Point N. W., and then anchor in 14 fathoms. Are there any dangers between St. Catherine's and Beachy Head? Yes, the Owers: on it is a light-vessel, exhibiting a fixed light. It bears from Selsea Bill S.S.E. E., 6 miles. How would you know when you are abreast of the Owers? By having Selsea Bill bearing N., and Hampton Lights N.N.E. a little easterly. What danger is off Beachy Head? The Royal Sovereign Shoal. How would you clear it? At night I would keep Beachy Head Light well open, and in the day the Head open of the eastern cliff. Beachy Head Light and Cape Grisnez Light being both revolving, how would you distinguish one from the other? Beachy Head Light revolves every two minutes, whereas Cape Grisnez Light flashes every half-minute. Where is Stephenson Shoal? W. S., 3 miles from Dungeness. On the Varne is exhibited a revolving light, bearing from Dover Castle S.S. W. 114 miles, and from Dungeness E. by S. S., 12 miles. W., How do the South Foreland Lights bear when they are in one? Ships bound into the Downs from the westward at nighttime, after steering from Dungeness E. by N. & N., should keep on that course until the South Foreland Light bears about W.; then steer N.E. N., bringing the light to bear about S.W. S., which course will take you between the Brake and the Goodwin and into the Gull Stream, (mind to keep your lead going); after passing the Gull Stream Light-vessel, steer N.E. E., which course, if bound into the North Sea, will give you a good wide berth off the Kentish Knock Light-vessel. In case of ships parting from their anchors, they should run through the Gull Stream as before, and as soon as the North Foreland Light bears N.W. by N., steer E. by S., which will clear the North-sand-end and give good sea-room. Stream is a revolving light. How would you anchor in the Downs? The Gull I would get upper Deal Mill on with Deal Castle W. by S., and the South Foreland upper light on with the South side of Old-stairs-point S. W. W., and anchor in about seven or eight fathoms; or further northward, upper Deal Mill is a good mark, open to the northward of Deal Castle about W.S.W. and the upper lighthouse near the inner cliff of Old-stairs Bay S.W.; you will then be to the eastward of the red buoy on Deal Bank. How near would you stand into the different headlands coming up Channel? From Dungeness to Beachy Head, the flood sets East, and the ebb West. From Beachy Head to St. Catherine's Point, the flood sets S.E. by E., a little easterly; and the ebb N.W. by W., a little westerly. From St. Catherine's Point to the Lizard, the flood sets E. by S., and the ebb W. by N. What are the dangers in the Channel on the French Coast ? Ushant, Rocks of Abervrach, Roche Blanche, Isle de Bas, the Triagoz, the Sept Isles, Roches Douvres, Casquets, and Calvados Rocks. N. B. In navigating the English Channel, the lead should be kept always at hand and ready for immediate use: too much care with it cannot be taken. |