Notice to Mariners.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 49, 28 April 1863, Page 2

Notice to Mariners.

POEX PHILLIP HEADS LI&HTHOU9BS.

Navigators are hereby informed that in accordance with a notice to mariners dated the 27th of December, 1862, the alterations in Shortland's Bluff and Swan Spit Lights, and the exhibition for the first time of n light on Point Lonsdale, as notified on the 3rd February, 1863, were carried into effect on the respective dates mentioned in such notices. Consequent upon these changes, the following' sailing directions are published for the guidance of vessels navigating the entrance to Port Phillip at ni?ht: — Ves=els from the southward and eastward will 6ee the high light (fixed whit») on a N J W bearing, and the white low light (fixed white and red) on a N b~E bearing; as they proceed to the NW to bring'the two lights in one, the low light will •hangclta color from white to red on a NNE £ E bearfag. Veiiels from the southward and westward sighting the high light to the eastward of NE by B^Bhoald, to avoid the Barwon bight, haul out to the eastward to open the low light, which will be first s^en white on a NE by E bearing, and as they proceed to bri»g the two lights in one the low light will change its color from white to red on a NE £ E bearing. A reference to the chart will show that, as hitherto, the best and safest course between the Heads is to keep the two Shortland's Bluff lights in one line on a NE by N and SW by S bearing ; but should the wind become scant and the vessel compelled to make a tack when in the vicinity of the Corsair Pioek or the Point Lonsdale Reef, these dangers will be avoided by vessels of T ;ht draught so long as the Shortland's Bluff low red light"ia kept in sight. Vessels so circumstanced mu3t be careful to go about or haul towards midchannel before the low light change 3 from red to ■white. The light (fixed red and green) on Point Lonsdale has "been established to warn vessels entering or departing at night, of their vicinity to, and - -when they are clear of, the Lonsdale and Ferguson j Vessels steering from &ea for Port Phillip, and near the entrance, will first ccc the Point Lonsdale creen light on a NW by N \ N bearing, and bo long as they have it full in view they are to eeaward of the Lonsdale and Ferguson rocks ; •when the two colors, red and green, begin to blend, it indicates vicinity to the line which passes on a NW by W bearing from the light over these dangers: When the Lonsdale red light opens out full, vessels are inside of them ; and when they shut it in sm a W \ N bearing, they are inside of the Corsair rock. Vessels steering towards the West Channel -will avoid the reef off Shortland'a Bluff, and the bank between it and Swan Spit, and also clear the Boyal George sand, when in their vicinity, by not opening out the white light on Swan Spit, but keeping the red light 5n sight until within three cabled length of it, when they win t>v above the Hoyal George buoy, and should haul to the eastward, and open the white light, giving the lighthouse a berth of three-quarter's of a cable's length in passing. Teasels navigating the South Cbunnel are reminded thafc the low light on Sbortlandß "Bluff now shows white from sea tip to the South Channel to the caat end ojfCapel Sound. Veeeela "below (kvel Sound, White Perch Buoy, will.be "aided jttKtheir passage up or down the t )So«ft"CliaiMsef^'4avbxdthc north sand, by not tknttiagihe VigHini,it being masked on a west by WitH'ißfl view of keeping (be fairway to tho West Cbsanel cUax, vetsels of Jigbfc draught ore