21st April - North Atlantic Southern Part 30:48.155N 064:38.095W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Sun 21 Apr 2013 19:41
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"Nearly There - 21st April"
The wind strength calmed down last night so we only
covered 143nm in 24hrs. Today a gentle NE force 3 wind is keeping us on
course and at this moment in time, we only have 90 miles to go!
We actually have the full Genoa out today, the first time since we left St
Maartin. We do not mind this leisurely 4-5 knots as it means that we will
arrive at Bermuda in daylight and also it means that "Life on the Starboard
Tack" is easier, especially as the galley is on the starboard
side!
We now have our Bermuda Islands & Off-Lying
Banks chart out on the chart table. I was studying it out of curiosity, it
is so well marked with the soundings in Fathoms! I was very amused to read
that the chart is from "Admiralty Surveys to 1937 and United States
Government Charts to 1945 with corrections to 1949". This is the New
Edition dated 3rd June 1949. I am wondering if this is one of Noel's more
uptodate charts? It not only shows where the BOAC Sea Plane landing
strip is in Port Royal Bay but also contains the following notes:-
"Note 4. Fish traps exist within the 100
fathom line. Vessels should proceed with caution within the areas
indicated on the chart."
"Note 5. Marinas are advised to navigate with
extreme care in the approaches to Bermuda Islands, owing to the existence
of extensive reefs whch encircle the islands and which are a constant
hazard to navigation. North Rock and the outer seabuoys may not be
reliable through lack of maintenance due to inaccessibility, except in calm
weather."
Thankfully, I believe Coral Reefs do not grow very
quickly and that thanks to the existence of visiting cruise liners the
seabuoys will hopefully be maintained, even so we most definitely do
not want to arrive in the dark! Another concern is that could the
techtonic plates have shifted since 1949 and moved Bermuda with it!
Providing that we at some stage arrive back in the
UK, I am pondering whether or not to advertise this historic antique on EBAY and
make my fortune, or be more generous and donate it to the Greenwich Maritime Museum!
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