NAVIGATION
TIME TIL SUNDOWN
NAVIGATION — TIME TIL SUNDOWN
When battle is about to be joined, the sun looming upon the horizon, a prudent captain may ask the master many a question about wind, tide, moon and importantly time to sundown. An approximated method follows the use of the width of your hand to measure the distance between the horizon and the sun. One hand span approximates to one hour. The width of each finger approximates to fifteen minutes.
SUMMARY
- Extend your arm fully.
- Hold your hand on top of the horizon.
- Each finger is 15 minutes.
- Each handspan is one hour.
SHIPS OF WAR — MURKY WATERS (Book One)
1791 — England's cannon remain ever silent as her shipping is ruthlessly preyed upon, a detestable state of affairs, though soon to be remedied...
England is ill prepared, Europe is in turmoil and the French Revolution is readying to sweep across the continent. A tedious uneasy peace poises on a knife's edge. Brittana rules the...
About "Ships of War" — a Naval Adventure Fiction Series
Aspects of navigation are an integral part of any ship in the age of sail. The hardships of such often mentioned the naval adventure fiction series "Ships of War" by Bradley John. From time to time, you too will be confronted (perhaps even confounded) by the nautical calculations suddenly presented, often in need to save the ship and their lives. Naturally, they were not afforded the ease of modern technologies such as GPS, computers or even rudimentary calculators.
The first instalment of the series is set in England in 1791, titled "Ships of War — Murky Waters". The reigning monarch of England is George III. Louis XVI is the monarch of France, but he is not exactly reigning, his authority somewhat diminished within the rising revolution. War is nigh and eventually is declared by France on 1 February 1793 (following the execution of Louis XVI on 21 January 1793).
Bradley John's series commences in 1791 in the prelude to war. It seems a solution must be found by the English Admiralty to resolve the piracy preying upon their merchant shipping. In doing so, they select a complete unknown, someone wholly dispensable, in particular, an unknown officer who had served under one Captain Horatio Nelson.