Why are Some Cannons Fired at Noon?
The noon or midday gun is a traditional time signal: a cannon fired precisely at midday so ships in port could set their chronometers correctly.…
Tag: safety at sea
Constant Bearing, Constant Danger
What does “constant bearing, constant danger” mean? And why does it sometimes lead to a very dangerous problem? This expression is a neat abbreviation of…
How to Read Water
Clues & Patterns from Puddles to the Sea A New York Times Bestseller. A Sunday Times “Must Read” book. A must-have book for walkers, sailors,…
The Supermoon and Tides
Tides are at the greatest range near a full or new moon and these are called ‘spring tides’. This is when the sun and moon’s…
How to Read Wave Patterns at the Coast
I took this photo from the South West Coast Path in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, a few days ago. In it we can see…
National Coastwatch Institution
I recently spent an enjoyable and informative couple of hours with the team at the St. Alban’s Head Lookout Station in Dorset, part of the…