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Revised 2012-12-12

Bligh's Vlydt Journal Mar 4-11, 1790

Week DayMo
Day
WindsCoursesDist
in
Miles
Latd
North
Longd
West
Longd by
Observn.
Varia'n
pr Azths
AltdOdot
Center
Days
Out
Remarks from the Cape of Good Hope towards England.
1790
March
Thursday


4thNW
W
SW
SSE
SEbS
N52°E9041°..44′28°..55′21..4a



22..30m
42.. 461 Moderate and Cloudy Wr. but not untill 8 AM did we let the Reefs out and Set a T Gallant Sail, towards Noon set fore Fore T. Mast and lower Steering Sails. The Dutch lay down 5 Rocks as high as a Ship in Latd. 44°..25′ No. and 2..50E in Longd from the East End St. Michael, which Capt. Couvret says is certain.
Friday5thSSE
SbE
N44E18843..5925..53
24..00m
40..1162 Fresh Gale and Cloudy Wr. with light Sun Shine. PM in Steering Sails and 2 Reefs At Noon in 3d Reefs and hauled more up.
Saturday6thSSE
So.
N55E17245..3722..3763 Fresh Gales and Cloudy Wr. middle and latter part thick Rain. Saw three Vessels standing to the Westward on a Wind. just at Noon got the Suns Altd. 38..29 which gives the Latitude 45°..51′N at Noon very unpleasant Wr. [What?] I considered true is 45°..37′.
Sunday7thSbE
SSW
WSW
N70E12146..2219..5638..3564 Do. Wr. untill the Morning when it came dry Wr. with the Sun out at times. Not untill Noon were any Reefs let out. People very wet and uncomfortable and so little attention paid to them that I expect they will be laid up with Colds.
Scilly N70°E 209 leags.
Monday8thWSWN49E11147..3517..5318..07
28..00m
37..4565 Modt. and Cloudy Wr. AM Fresh Breezes and fair At 21h..17′ Longd from Dist Odot& 18°..21′W
Tuesday9thWSW
SW
N62E16548..5414..1036..4966 Very Fine Wr. and Strong orthern Lights. Sea full of luminous blubbers. AM Fresh Gales and thick Cloudy Wr. and Rain. Under Close Reefs at Noon. Had two sights of the Sun about Noon which proved I had the first nearest the truth.
Wednesd'y10thWSW

WNW

NW

WNW
N80°E16049..2110..1110..17W36..4567 Strong Gales and thick Wr. untill Sun set when it came clear and continued so with Strong Gale the remaining part of these 24 Hours. Saw several Vessels Outward bound. At 7 O'Clock PM I observed the Latd by Sirius 49°..05′ North At 8 AM Sounded and 105 fms. Line out and got ground, I suppose at 90 fms. fine White Sand. At 20h 38′ Apparent time I got a set of Observations which gave the Longitude 10°..48′..30″ West which red'd to Noon is as pr Column. Longd brought on from last Obs'n. 10°..15′W at Noon, Scilly N76°E dist. 49 Leags.
Thursday11thWbN

West

WSW

SW

SWbS


E¼N

13349..277..588..04""68 PM Fine Wr. AM Thick Misty Wr.
85– From 8 AM yesterday we run 10 leags. and Sounded 85 fms. pieces of old Shells and Stones of different colours. At 1 PM
75– From 1 PM we run 4 leags. At 5 PM Sounded 75 fms. old broken Shells and brown Gravel
74– From 5 PM run 4 Leags. to 8 OClock & sounded 74 fms. fine light coloured Sand & black spots
80– From 8 OClock run 5⅓ leags. and Sounded 80 fms. fine light coloured Sand at Midnight.
72– From Midnight run 4 leags. to 4 OClock AM and Sounded 72 fms. light drab coloured Sand.
74– From 4 AM run 5⅓ leags. and Sounded at 8h. 74 fms. fine light coloured Sand.
68– From 8 AM run 4 leags. to Noon & had 68 fms. light coloured Sand & a few fine pieces of Shells.
 At Noon thick foggy Wr. but in the Course of the Forenoon I got Altds. which gave me the latitude 49°..27′N.
  The above Soundings were with a true East Course in Latd. 49..21N by Acct.
St. MarysScilly by my L & DR N56°E 22 Leagues.
Do. by my Soundings NNE 13 Leagues and about 10 from the Southermost Rocks.

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