SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR ENTERING THE PORT OF INVERCARGILL.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 7, 23 November 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR ENTERING THE PORT OF INVERCARGILL.

From the Provincial Government Gazette, Aug. 7 * Vessels-Abound for New" River 'should steer .for the north end of Point Island, around which,' to within a cable's length^ there is not less than* five fathoms water. A strtall patch „is said to exist about a quarter of "a mile-off in a westerly, direction, but the pilots have not been able to find less than five fathoms water on hyhard sand bottom.' Outside the Bar, in six fathoms, is moored a spiral-shaped black buoy, bearing from the north end of the Island north half a mile.; Steer for this buoy, and as. you approach it theleading Beacons., paipted white, will come on* with' each otlier bearing from you E. \ S. Keep, the beacons in one, leaving the black buoy on, your port hand,' which' will lead you- over" the! bar in fifteen feet at low water, spring. tides. ( The breadth ofthe bar is about a good - cablets length, and insile of it, in fo.ur fathoms, ,is a' spiral-shaped white buoy, marking the south side of the channel. The course from this buoy, to about two, cables' length above the P.ilot . Station, is E \\ N, and from thence, to about four cables' length farther upj Eby N, The channel then gradually ; bends to the northward until -past the Bombay Rock. The Pilot Station is' situated between thei leading beacons, and, except in heavy gales, a pilot will board the vessel abreast ofthe station but, should the wind and sea be too strong for, him to 'put off, the shipmaster by attending to' the following directions, may be able himself to conduct his vessel to a place of safety :— - The channel is marked by white buoys on the starboard or south side, and by black buoys on the port or north side. Keep midway between the black and white buoys. About three cables' length below the Bombay Rock lies a small rock called the " Guiding Star Rock," with only four feet water over it. A white buoy has been- placed on the* west side of this rock, in. [twelve feet -water The. Sand Spit, On the opposite side of the Channel, has been advancing into it during the last six months, and at- present the breadth of the pas r sage between the Spit and the rock is so narrow that it would not be prudent for a stranger tO run through. It would be safer, to anchor abreast of the second black buoy, above the Pilot Station, where a vessel with good ground tackle could ride in comparative safety. The leading-mark to pass midway between the rock and the Spit is^— Keep the high hummock on the extreme end of Sandy Point a sail's breadth open to the eastward ofthe iron white beacon on Bombay Rock, bearing N E f N. When abreast of the white buoy, keep off a little, so as not to shave the point of the Spit too close *j a N by E half E course will then lead you through between the Bombay Rock and the black buoy on the opposite side of the chaqnel. On the west side of the Bombay Rock is placed an iron beacon, surmounted by a barrel painted white. The top of the beacon is fifteen feet above Iqw water mark, and tbe rock projects froin-ths beacon twenty feet W N W into the channel ; immediately beyond tbv**^ is eTghteen feet water. The course from abreast V this beacon to the second white buoy as you proceed upwards is N E by N, and from thence to the third white buoy N E, but allowance must be made for the sgt of the tide, which runs through the blind channel and strikes across the ship channel, between the Bombay Rock and the first white buoy above it. The flood setting east, the ebb west. The best anchorage for a stranger to take is abreast ofthe third white buoy from the Bombay Rock, letting go the anchors nearest to the S W side, as it is pretty steep, too. 'The depth of water near the shore is three, and, in midchannel, five fathoms — good holding ground. It is high-water full and change at the Pilot Station at l'2h. 30m., and the rise of tide frpm six to eleven feet, according to the winds and state of the tides*; westerly winds setting the tides up. — A flagstaff has been erected On Steep Head-, on which will be hoisted, on and after the 15th August, 1863, tidal signals, nearly the same as shown at Lonsdale Point, Port Phillip, viz. : — BETWEEN SUNRISE AND SUNSET. During the first quarter flood, a blue flag half-mast high. During the second quarter flood, a blue flag at the mast-head Duringthc third quarterflood, No 7 Marryatt's, half-mast high. During- the last quarter flood, No 7 Marryatt's at the mast-head. EBB TIDE. During first quarter, a blue flag half-mast high, with a ball underneath. During second quarter, a blue flag at mast-head, with a ball underneath. ;, During third quarter, No 7, Marryatt's, halfmast high, with a ball underneath. Last quarter, No 7, Marryatt's, at the masthead, with a ball underneath. "When the sea is high on the bar, a black ball '}, will be hoisted at the north yardarm, in addition ; to the tidal signals ; but, when it is- unfit for a vessel to enter the harbor, the tidal signals will not be shown, but two black balls will be hoisted at the north yardarm. Communication may be had with vessels at sea, by means of Marryatt's signals, at the south yardarm. j . Marryatt's signals, at tbe north yardarm, will i be intended for the pilots at the station. j Masters of vessels should not run for the ! harbor during the ebb tide, unless with, a good commanding breeze, smooth water, and with a vessel easily steered. The bearings and courses given are by compass, and the soundings at lev" water spring tides. J. B. GREIG, Harbor Master. ' , +-^-