472 PASSAGES OVEE THE ATLANTIC. 



tremendous gales which caused the Liverpool lightship to part her moor- 

 ings, and compelled her to run into the Mersey for shelter. 



From what has been stated above, it will be seen that this bay is of easy 

 access and egress, but it should never be used unless in a case of necessity, 

 and then with a good and careful look-out at all times, and everything 

 should be in readiness to trip the anchor at the moment the wind veers to 

 the Eastward of North, if the weather be not very moderate and settled. 



On weathering the Smalls, when outward bound, it is advisable to keep 

 well to the Westward if the wind will permit, so as, on advancing South- 

 ward, to give Scilly a wide berth — say of 55 or 60 miles. 



(d) On pboceeding by the South of Ireland PB0^r the Oci3AcT 



TO Liverpool, etc. 



In coming from the Westward, many navigators endeavour to make the 

 Fastnet Kock and Cape Clear, as it is high land, and there is an excellent 

 revolving light on the former. The coast in the neighbourhood is also 

 generally bold. But I do not think this is an advisable plan for a stranger, 

 unless he has obtained good observations a very short time previously ; for 

 I have known sailing vessels to be detained several days in endeavouring 

 to work round the cape against strong Southerly gales and a N . W. current 

 —unquestionably Eennell's. 



In two of these cases, one in 1836, and the other in lb39, two different 

 shipmasters ran with confidence for Cape Clear, upon the fa,ith of good 

 observations for latitude, taken forty-eight hours previously, and both made 

 the Skelligs on the starboard bow, when steering E. by S., with the wind 

 from the Southward and S.S.W., thick weather and rain. When the 

 Skelligs were near, one of these gentlemen considered his vessel to be on 

 the parallel of the cape, and the other (in 1839) thought that he was at 

 least 10 to 15 miles to the Southward of it. It may be proper, however, 

 to add that the latter denied the existence of Rennoll's Current, until he 

 thus found the effect of it. 



In thick, hazy weather, it may be well to run upon the parallel of 51° N. 

 until the vessel gets into 65 fathoms or less water; then steer about 

 E. by N., keeping the lead occasionally going and be careful not to advance 

 into less than 40 fathoms, when a channel course of about East may be 

 shaped, having constant recourse to the deep-sea lead. By proceeding in 

 this manner, it is probable that the land will be made in the vicinity of 

 Waterford, or about the Saltee Islands. Waterford may be known by the 

 lighthouse on Hook Point, on the East side of the entrance of the harbour. 



A little to the Westward of Waterford are the three towers on Great 

 Newton Head, and two towers upon Brownston Head, as described in the 

 Sailing Directory. The latter are about 6 miles to the Westward of the 

 Hook Point of Waterford, and are too remarkable to be mistaken. The 

 Saltee Islets are llj miles to the Eastward of Hook Point, known by its 

 tower and light. The Great Saltee is high, and may be readily known by 

 the Coningbeg lightship, moored to the S. W. of it. No vessel should attempt 

 to pass between the lightvessel and the land, if it can possiblv be avoided, 

 the passage between being rocky and dangerous. 



