A FASCINATING SHORT SEA STORY
The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing
its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way
from Vancouver to Australia.
The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and
brought the master, Captain John Phillips, the result.
The Warrimoo's position was LAT 0ยบ 31' N and LON 179 30' W.
The date was 31 December 1899.
"Know what this means?"
First Mate Payton broke in,
"We're only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator
and the International Date Line".
Captain Phillips was prankish enough to take full advantage
of the opportunity for achieving the navigational freak of a lifetime.
He called his navigators to the bridge to check & double check
the ships position.
He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark.
Then he adjusted the engine speed.
The calm weather & clear night worked in his favour.
At midnight the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the
point where it crossed the International Date Line!
The consequences of this bizarre position were many:
The forward part (bow) of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere
& in the middle of summer.
The rear (stern) was in the Northern Hemisphere & in the middle of winter.
The date in the aft part of the ship was 31 December 1899.
In the bow (forward) part it was 1 January 1900.
This ship was therefore not only in:
Two different days,
Two different months,
Two different years,
Two different seasons
But in two different centuries - all at the same time.
Cool! O0
It's always smart to have a little skepticism about sailor's stories.
As we were all warned,
What's the difference between a sea story and a fairy tale?
A fairy tale begins, "Once upon a time..."
A sea story begins, "I heard the captain and the XO. This is a no shit..."
that's pretty awesome if it's true
I once knew a girl in North Florida that could sc--w you into the next Time Zone. ::)