"You see a storm approaching, and put a
stopwatch on a flash of lightning off in the distance.
It takes precisely 27.5 seconds for the sound from that
blast to reach your ears. Within 1/8 mile, how far away
was the flash of lightning in nautical miles?"
Answer: 5.0 nm (27.5 / 5.5 =5) Assumes 1,117 ft/sec as
the speed of sound. (source...Bowditch)
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
Geno of Portland, OR
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
John S. of Charleston, SC
Capt. Mike of Shirley, NY
Steve of Leitchville, AUS
Lynn P. of Crystal River, FL
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Capt. Shaun of Fort Washington, PA
Capt. Dick of Avalon, NJ
Patrick D. of Fairfax, VA
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
1st Mate Tristan of Long Island, NY
Bob L. of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Week beginning 24 January 1998 -
"The tendency of the hull of a ship to settle
amidships when her weight is supported by waves
at her bow and her stern is called SAGGING. What term is
used to describe the tendency of the bow and stern
to droop when the ship's hull is supported by a wave
amidships?"
Answer: Hogging
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Steve of Leitchville, AUS
John S. of Charleston, SC
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
Patrick D. of Fairfax, VA
1st Mate Tristan of Long Island, NY
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
LT W. of Seattle, WA
Capt. Dick of Avalon, NJ
Harry D. of Isle of Palms, SC
Capt. Shaun of Fort Washington, PA
LT. W. of Seattle, WA
Week beginning 17 January 1998 -
"You are dead in the water at 0200, and
have requested assistance from the Coast Guard.
A CG helo is within sight and approaching your position.
Name two things you MUST NOT DO at this point, either
of which could endanger the helo and its crew."
Answer: Don't deploy an aerial flare,
and don't shine a light toward the aircraft.
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
Yukonb of Woodstock, NY
Lynn P. of Crystal River, FL
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Steve of Leitchville, AUS
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Ed & Bonnie K. of Fort Wayne, IN
LT W. of Seattle, WA
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
John S. of Charleston, SC
Rick B. of Manistee, MI
Bob of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
1st Mate Tristan of Long Island, NY
Mike of Shirley, NY
Week beginning 10 January 1998 -
"The word 'dead' in 'dead reckoning' evolved from 'ded', the abbreviated form of the word ___________"
Answer: Deduced
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Harry D. of Isle of Palms, SC
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
John S. of Charleston, SC
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
Lt. W. of Seattle, WA
Lynn P. of Crystal River, FL
Bob M. of Mt. Pleasant, SC
Capt. Shaun of Fort Washington, PA
RWH of Fenton, MI
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Seabuoy of Morehead City, NC
Bob of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Patrick D. of Fairfax, VA
Capt. Dick of Avalon, NJ
Steve of Leitchville, AU
Rick D. of Sun Prairie, WI
Bert of San Diego, CA
George E. of Portland, OR
Week beginning 3 January 1998 -
"Under the Lateral System (exluding
Western Rivers and the ICW), name three
characteristics of a nun buoy."
Answer: 1. Shape - conical top
2. Color - red
3. Numbering - even
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Marion C. of Bayfield, ONT
Hennie O. of Chalfont, PA
Lynn P. of Crystal River, FL
Rick of Manistee, MI
Week beginning 27 December 1997 -
"Also known as Corposant, Cormazant,
Capra Saltante, and Corbie's Aunt, this phenomena at sea
was considered to be a bad omen if its light fell
upon the face of a seaman, but also was thought to
foretell the ending of stormy weather."
Answer: St. Elmo's Fire
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Harry D. of Isle of Palms, SC
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
John S. of Charleston, SC
Lynn P. of Crystal River, FL
Capt. Shaun of Fort Washington, PA
Capt. Dick of Avalon, NJ
Rick D. of Sun Prairie, WI
Bob M. of Mt. Pleasant, SC
LT W. of Seattle, WA
Patrick D. of Fairfax, VA
Week beginning 20 December 1997 -
"What is the name of the lighthouse that was
the subject of the Hildegarde Swift childrens' book,
The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great
Gray Bridge?"
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
Bob of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Capt. Shaun of Fort Washington, PA
Steve O. of Rock Hall, MD
John S. of Charleston, SC
Harry D. of Isle of Palms, SC
Week beginning 13 December 1997 -
"Rhumb lines which cut meridians at
oblique angles are called ___________ curves."
Answer: loxodromic
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
RWH of Fenton, MI
John S. of Charleston, SC
Steve O. of Rock Hall, MD
Bob of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Capt. Shaun of Fort Washington, PA
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
1st Mate Tristan of Long Island, NY
Harry D. of Isle of Palms, SC
Week beginning 6 December 1997 -
"There is a 'code of the sea state', in a
form similar to the Beaufort Scale for winds.
What is the height of waves (mean maximum) in a
'code 4' sea state?"
Answer: 4-8 feet
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
John S. of Charleston, SC
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
Bob of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Capt. Dick of Avalon, NJ
Capt. Shaun of Fort Washington, PA
dave of Toronto, ONT
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Week beginning 29 November 1997 -
"This Roman god of unkown origin but
thought to be associated with Salacia, the
goddess of salt water, was later identified with
the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. Who was it?"
Answer: Neptune
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
John S. of Charleston, SC
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
Capt. Dick of Avalon, NJ
Steve O. of Rock Hall, MD
Bob of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Drea of Whitewater, WI
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Bob of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
YukonB of Woodstock, NY
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
Patrick D. of Fairfax, VA
Bob G. of White Bear Lake, MN
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Week beginning 22 November 1997 -
"To an Inuit of the far north, a kayak is
only a kayak if piloted by a male. What is
the name given to the vessel if a female is in
the driver's seat?"
Answer: Umiak
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Ross of Calgary, ALB
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
John S. of Charleston, SC
Capt. Shaun of Fort Washington, PA
Ranger Kevin of Ottawa, IL
Jerry T. of Cadiz, KY
Capt. Dick of Avalon, NJ
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Harry D. of Isle of Palms, SC
Week beginning 15 November 1997 -
"Name this type of sound signal emitted
by a lighthouse or light vessel in fog,
characterized by a powerful low note ending
with a sharply descending tone known as a grunt?"
Answer: Diaphone
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
John S. of Charleston, SC
Harry D. of Isle of Palms, SC
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY (via Hong Kong)
1st Mate Tristan of Islip, LI, NY
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Week beginning 8 November 1997 -
"What is a "soldier's wind"?"
Answer: A steady beam wind...so called because
it requires less skill and work...therefore even a
"soldier" could sail in such a wind.
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY (via Singapore)
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Harry D. of Isle of Palms, SC
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Patrick D. of Fairfax, VA
John S. of Charleston, SC
Bob M. of Mt. Pleasant, SC
Week beginning 1 November 1997 -
"In 1869, Harper's Weekly featured this
woman on the cover. She was credited for rescuing
24 mariners during her watch as keeper of the
lighthouse at Lime Rock Station in Rhode Island.
Her last rescue was at her age 64. A CG Buoy
Tender bears her name.
Who was she?"
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
John S. of Charleston, SC
Harry D. of Isle of Palms, SC
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
J. Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
Patrick D. of Fairfax, VA
Capt. Dick of Avalon, NJ
Bob of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Bob M. of Mt. Pleasant, SC
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Week beginning 25 October 1997 -
"The "Seven Seas" is a term figurately
considered to include "all the waters and
oceans of the world".
The term has historically been applied
generally to what seven waters?"
Answer: Figuratively speaking, the seven seas are
generally considered to be the N. Pacific, S. Pacific,
N. Atlantic, S. Atlantic, Arctic, Antarctic, and
Indian Oceans.
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Yukonb of Woodstock, NY
John S. of Charleston, SC
Bob M. of Mt. Pleasant, SC
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
Bob of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Steve O. of Rock Hall, MD
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
Capt. Dick of Avalon, NJ
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Patrick D. of Fairfax, VA
Week beginning 18 October 1997 -
"Using a Mercator chart and the
1 minute of latitude=1 nm convention, how far would
a ship actually travel (in nm) along the equator
using a chart measurement of 180 nm?"
Answer: 179 nm (rounded to nearest nm)
If you said 179 or 181, I gave it to you based upon
some controversy over conflicting information that
may have appeared on my "Equivalents" page. However,
179.1 nm is the correct answer to the question.
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
John S. of Charleston, SC
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Bob M. of Mt. Pleasant, SC
Steve of Leitchville, AUS
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Week beginning 11 October 1997 -
"Name the four major intercardinal points."
Answer: NW (45o) SW (135o) SE (225o) NE (315o)
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
John S. of Charleston, SC
Bob M. of Mt. Pleasant, SC
Al C. of Worton, MD
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Bob of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Steve O. of Rock Hall, MD
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Harry of Isle of Palms, SC
Darby of Charleston, SC
Patrick D. of Fairfax, VA
Leo B. of Charleston, SC
Rick D. of S/R Long Beach, US
Steve of Leitchville, AUS
Dick P. of Haverhill, MA
Week beginning 4 October 1997 -
"In some texts, a fourth dimension has recently been
added to the familiar 'fire triangle' of heat, oxygen, and fuel.
What is the 'fire tetrahedron' fourth element?"
Answer: "Chemical Chain Reaction"
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Jim of Port Clinton, OH
Capt. Steve of Yonkers, NY
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
Bob L. of Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Bob M. of Mt. Pleasant, SC
Steve of Leitchville, AUST
Week beginning 27 September 1997 -
"Just off the coast of Iceland, a ship's bell tolls
three times. What are the six possibilities of the time
at that same moment in Miami, Florida? (Military Time, EST)"
Answer: 0030, 0430, 0830, 1230, 1630, and 2030
(A ship's bell tolls each half hour, with 8 bells at
4:00 AM and PM, 8:00 AM and PM, and 12:00 noon
and midnight. Iceland is at GMT (0)
while Miami is at EST (-5).
"Waydago", "Ooh", and "Aah" to:
Tom B. of Vancouver, WA
John S. of Charleston, SC
Patrick D. of Fairfax, VA
Jim C. of Bayfield, ONT
Jim P. of Port Clinton, OH
LadySailor of Euclid, OH
Bob G. of White Bear Lake, MN
