Bishop's Rock Lighthouse, Scilly Isles

Brian · 08 November 2001, 11:03

In the hope that Alan Priddy can tell us what it is really like, I attach a map to show our European brothers and colonial cousins where it is. Also a photo of the Hanjangue Rock in the Eastern Isles of Scilly which is 19m high (or as us mariners say "Conspic.").
I ahve to say whenever I have been there the sea has always been very calm but I can imagine that it's a swine in a strong westerley.

Brian · 08 November 2001, 11:05

and now the Hanjangue, normally covered with grey Atlantic seals

sirzap · 08 November 2001, 11:59

Thanks...looks good
Neil

Keith Hart · 09 November 2001, 19:20

On one of my charts (Kylesku and Edrachillies Bay) there is a ruddy great island in Loch a Carin Bhain marked with 'conspic'. I took it that this is short for conspicuous. When I went past it I thought that it was quite obviously conspicuous by the size of it. So then what exactly does this mean to quote Brian:
(or as us mariners say "Conspic.")

If it's that obvious then why do then have to mark it as such?

Keith (more questions) Hart

Brian · 10 November 2001, 11:12

An item is marked conspicuous to alert our attention to the fact that this is something to look out for SPECIFICALLY.
An example is actually quite near my house.
There are two pairs of "radio" masts on top of the hills above the sea. One pair is marked "conspic." the other pair not. The pairs are about 5 miles apart. The first pair is visible from a long way out to sea. The second pair, being very slim masts, are almost invisible until about 2 miles away. Without that marking on the chart is would be very easy to mistake the pairs if one was close inshore and thus get potentially into navigational dificulties.
Very often in RIBS we are involved in "high speed navigation" and can "tick off" specific points as we whizz past them. If you make a sequential list of the "conspic" points (and maybe take a bearing of them to double-check), then your confidence in your navigation takes a filip.

Alan Priddy · 10 November 2001, 11:44

Bit busy at the moment, I wil post details of all the really good headlands and races that we have come across in the world over the next few days.