Sailing directions for the Bay of Biscay, including the coasts of France and Spain, from Ushant to Cape Finisterre ... Third editionC. Wilson, 1847 - 52 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
12 fathoms 9 feet 9 miles Adour Aiguillon anchor anchorage Arcachon avoid bank Basse battery BAY OF BISCAY Bayonne beacon bearing Bec du Raz berth Blaye Breton buoys cable's length cables called Cape Ortegal Castle channel Church coast Cordouan Coubre Croisic dangerous direction distant east eastern eastward enter entrance farther fathoms water feet at low feet water fixed harbour-light fixed light flag-staff flashes full and change Gironde ground harbour high water Isle of Ré keep la Coubre La Repentie land large ships leagues lies lighthouse low water mariner mark Matthew's nearly north side northward Oleron passage Passe de Grave Pertuis pier pilot Point de Grave Port Louis port or larboard river rocky Royan sail sand sandy seen Semaphore shallow shoal shore small vessels Socoa southern point southward spring-tides starboard side steer tide tower Tower of Hercules town Ushant weather western point western side westward
Popular passages
Page 37 - ... and the anchorage there is also good. " During the summer months, I would recommend vessels to stand off and on. keeping outside the bay, and well to the westward, to avoid being driven on cape Villano by the north-west swell, which is a common occurrence when the winds fail. Anchoring in the bay is not recommended under any circumstances, except for a few hours during the day, to await a tide, as the riding is very heavy; and should a vessel part her cables, it would be almost impossible to...
Page 40 - Santander is the best harbour on the north coast of Spain eastward of Cape Ortegal, but there is little doubt that it is filling up, and that the channel and even the anchorage now used, may in a few years be impracticable. The directions given by...
Page 3 - Vintier-point are two valleys; the largest, above mentioned, is near to the point; that to the eastward of it is small. In turning. to windward here, you may stand to the eastward until St. Matthew's Abbey comes a capstan-bar's length open to the eastward of the little valley; and, to the westward, until St. Matthew's Point comes a little open of the point of Conquct-hnven. Were you to bring the former two ships...
Page 45 - ... Ferrol, or Corunna, you ought to be careful to keep off the land at night, for the currents may drift you into danger; perhaps you cannot do better than pass your night in the neighbourhood, or to the westward of the Cisargas Islands, standing off and on, as occasion may require: and if the wind be from the SW, you will find a current setting strongly towards Cape Ortegal. Be careful to provide against being driven to leeward of Ferrol; for, with a large ship, the Bay of Varas, or Barquero, is...
Page 40 - NE Santander in NW gales should not be attempted if the vessel can keep at sea ; and even after the gale for a day or so, it should be approached with great caution, so that the approaching vessel get not so far embayed as not to be able to. haul out again should the bar (as it may be termed) be up : when that is the case, from Mouro Island to the...
Page 35 - Light-house stands in latitude of 63° 13' 45" N., and longitude 19° 37' 39" E. of Greenwich; the height of the Tower is 63 feet, but the Light stands 104 feet above the level of the sea, and may be seen at the distance of about 16 miles from all points of the compass, in clear weather. SHIVERING SAND BUOY. The Shivering Sand Buoy, which was moved about two cables
Page 45 - The light, having reflectors on the opposite side of the circle, is revolving; and so contrived, that the intervals of light and shade are of equal duration, and may be seen 8 leagues off.* In making for the Harbours of Ferrol, or Corunna, you ought to be careful to keep off the land at night, for the currents may drift you into danger; perhaps you cannot do better than pass your night in the neighbourhood, or to the westward of the Cisargas Islands, standing off and on, as occasion may require:...
Page 7 - Baz light will not be seen till the vessel is within 4 or 5 miles of the western extremity of the chain of rocks. When it is intended to pass to the southward of the rocks, a course should be steered so as to open the light on the Bec du...
Page 37 - Santona, a port about seventeen miles to the westward, and there await for moderate weather. The state of the bar is generally known by the pilots of that port, and the anchorag-e there is also good. During the summer months, I would recommend vessels to stand off and on, keeping outside the bay, and well to the westward, to avoid being driven on Cape Villano by the north-west swell, which is a common occurrence when the winds fail. • Anchoring in the bay, is not recommended under any circumstances,...
Page 37 - I would recommend, during the winter months, for any vessels to proceed to Santona, a port about seventeen miles to the westward, and there await for moderate weather. The state of the bar is generally known by the pilots of that port, and the anchorag-e there is also good. During...