414 On the Loss of the Iron-built Sailing-ship ' Glenorchy.'. [Apr. 29, 



From the combined effects of the position of the steering-compass in 

 the ship and of the ship in building, it is certain that there must have 

 been a very large heeling error drawing the north point of the compass to 

 the weather side of the ship. This error was probably not less than 

 3° or 4° for each degree of heel on a N. or S. course, before the chain- 

 correctors were applied. The chain-correctors would reduce it about 50', 

 leaving 2° or 3° for each degree of heel. On a S.W. by W. course this 

 error would be reduced to five-ninths of its maximum amount, or would 

 be from 1° to 1|° for each degree of heel. Hence if the 'Glenorchy' 

 was heeling 10°, she would certainly have an easterly deviation of a point 

 to a point and a half, or possibly more, introduced. 



But it may be asked, if the ship had this large amount of heeling 

 deviation, how did it escape detection in the earlier part of the voyage, 

 when the ship was on a southerly course and the bearings of the lights 

 were taken? and if detected, how was it not allowed for on the 1st of 

 January '! 



The answer to these questions is remarkable ; it is shortly this. The 

 error was detected and was allowed for correctly when the ship was on the 

 starboard tack. Afterwards, and when the ship was put on the port tack, 

 it was still allowed for, but in the same direction as before, and therefore 

 in the wrong direction. It was allowed for as a westerly deviation, 

 although it had become an easterly deviation ; and consequently the 

 heeling error instead of being corrected, was doubled. And of this the 

 cause was as follows. 



Between Greenock and Lamlash, the ship being towed and on even keel, 

 there were no means of detecting the error. Between Lamlash and the 

 Calf of Man, when the ship was on the starboard tack and on a southerly 

 course, an error of a point of westerly deviation was, as we have seen, 

 detected and allowed for by the captain. This error I think there cannot 

 be a doubt was heeling error. 



But when on the morning of the 1st of January the ship tacked and was 

 put on the port tack, the heeling deviation changed from being a westerly 

 deviation to being an easterly deviation. The captain not being aware that 

 there would be this change, and having no opportunity of verifying his 

 course, continued to make the same allowance as before, and consequently 

 made it, as I have said, in the wrong direction. As to the fact I think I 

 cannot be mistaken. 



The captain's words are : — " Our observations of the different lights all 

 the way down Channel showed the compasses were inaccurate, and during 

 the whole course on the starboard tack we had to steer one point more to 

 the west than the proper course." 



Then, speaking of the ship's supposed position at 1.30, he says: — 

 "The courses I had observed, and the rate we were going, allowing for the 

 tide and the leeway, and the point the compass was in error while on the 



