The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-10 00:00:00

SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR
TORRES STRAITS.
(From the Sydney Government Gazette.)
His Excellency the Governor, in directing the publication
of the following sailing directions for the passage through
Torres Straits, from Rains's Island to Cape York, prepared
by Captain F. B. Blackwood, of her Majesty's ship Fly, and
also similar directions for the passage through Endeavour
Straits, prepared by Lieutenant Yule, of her Majesty's ship
Bramble, gladly avails himself of the opportunity of express-
ing the high sense he entertains of the services rendered to
the commercieal interests of the colony by Captain Black-
wood and the officers associated with him in the survey of
Torres Straits, and alsofor their exertions in the erection of
the beacon on Raine's Island.
His Excellency the Governor further directs it to be noti-
fied that charts of the passage in question have also been re-
ceived from Captain Blackwood, and having been litho-
graphed, copies may be obtained on application to the port-
master at Sydney, and harbour master at Melbourne, at a
charge of ss. for the set, including a copy of the sailing
directions.
SAILING DIRECTIONS FROM PAINE'S ISLAND TO CAPE YORK.
The beacon erected on Raine's Island is in long. 144 6 52
E., lat. 11 33 49 S. ; variation of the compass 3 50 E.
This position having been determined with great care both
by chronometric measurements and by a series of astrono-
mical observations, may be considered as nearly correct, and
will afford a good opportunity for ships passing to test their
chronometers.
The top of the building (which is a circular stone tower)
is 75 feet above low water mark; and it was constantly seen
from the masthead of her Majesty's ship Fly, at a distance
of 13 measured miles.
It is coloured towards the S.E. with vertical black and red
bands; the dome which surmounts the building beingpainted
white.
Provisionshave been left inside the building, and it is hoped
that a large five-ton tank, with a good pipe laid down into
it from the top of the beacon, may be the means of affording
a good supply of fresh water to any persons who may be
unfortunate enough to be wrecked in the neighbourhood, and
who may land on the island.
A reef on which the sea always breaks heavily runs out
E.S.E., one mile and a half from the base of the beacon (which
is built on the east extreme of the island), and closing in
towards the islet on its western side, leaves a small piece of
sheltered water where boats may land and small vessels an-
chor in four fathoms. It is high water at the full and change
at eight a.m , and the average greatest rise of the tide ob-
served was nine feet at that period.
The midchannel course for the channel south of Raine's
Island is W.S.W.; and for the northern S.W. by S., both
perfectly clear, on which direction having steered for nine
miles, soundings will be obtained in from 17 to 25 fathoms
coarse coral sand. The flood tide sets in about NV. by ,
from two to three knots per hour at the springs, therefore
a ship steering by the north channel; and having the flowing
tide, wilt be liable to set towards the reefs which form
the northern boundary of the passage; and if it be late in
the evening when she enters, should anchor directly she
strikes soundings; if plenty of daylight, haul up to S.W.
half NV., for the middle banks, which should be seen (after
having run 13 or 14 miles from the time of obtaining sound-
ings) on the starboard bow, and Sir C. Hardy's Islands
ahead.
Better anchorage will now be obtained in twelve and
thirteen fathoms coral sand, and the ship will be in a good
position for steering in for the main land by passing either
north or south of the Cockburn Reef.
The middle banks are three or four small sand-banks,
generally showing above water, and surrounded by small
coral reef, of which there are no outlying dangers.
From them the beacon on Raine's Island bears N.E. by E.,
half E. twenty-six miles, peak of northern Hardy Island
S.W. by W. twelve miles, and Ashmore's Sand-banks, three
in number, wilt be seen bearing S., nearly six miles distant,
and. the east extreme of the Cockburn Reef, W. by S. nine
miles.
To pass in by Polard's Channel, or to the south of the
Cockburn Reef, when one mile from the middle banks, bear-
ing north, steer a W. half S. course for nine miles, and when
within one-third of a mile from the end of the reef (which
always breaks, and is quite bold to approach), alter course
to S.W. by W., and steer close along the southern edge, by
which means a series of shoal patches, which lie between the
Cockburn Reef and Hardy's Isles will be avoided. This
channel is very deep, 28 and 25 fathoms, and in no part is
less than three-quarters of a mile in breadth, and appeared,
on a very close examination, to be perfectly clear of sunken
dangers; strong tide ripplings gave the appearance of shoal
water when her Majesty's ship Fly sailed through, but the
lead gave nothing less than 25 fathoms.
It is about eight miles in length, and when the northern
Hardy Island bears E. by N., a small sand-bank (which is
the southern and western extreme of the dangers) being
visible, and nearly on with Haggerston Island extreme, and
the Cockburn Isles bear N. by W., a course may be steered
for the Bird Isles, which. bear N.W., distant eighteen miles.
To pass on the north of the Cockburn Reef, steer as before,
to make the pitch of the reef, when soundings of eight
fathoms will be obtained ; having clearly made out the
breakers on the reef, which is safe to approach, and at the
distance of half a mile or less from it, steer a due west course
for eight or nine miles, till the Cockburn Isle bear S.W. by
S.; being then about a mile from the reef, steer along its
edge in nine or ten fathoms on the north-westerly course.
The Bird Isles should now be seen bearing west. From
the north extreme of the Cockburn Reef, which should be
rounded in ten or eleven fathoms, a S.S.W. course for a mile
or two will lead clear of a sunken patch (bearing west three
miles from the end of Cockburn Reef), and a direct course
may then be steered for the islands above-named.
By keeping along the edge of the Cockburn Reef, a series
of dangerous shoal coral patches, which run in a parallel
directiop to the reef, at a distance of three miles from it,
Will be avoided; the southern danger bears N.W. by W. from
the eastern extreme of the Cockburn Reef; and a good mast-
head look-out will detect its position, it being very shoal
(five feet) on one part of it.
The Bird Isles being reached, all sail may be carried, and
Captain King's track followed to Cape York; and it may be
observed, that in with the main land the bottom is mud, and
perfectly clear of sunken dangers.
I would, therefore, recommend reaching the Bird Isles
as soon as possible, for when reached the danger of Torres
Straits may be said to terminate. Should the weather,
however, be fine and clear, in a vessel not drawing more
than 15 or 16 feet water, the middle tract may be safely
pursued. To follow this tract pass either north or south
of the Middle Banks, and steer a N. by W. course for 30
miles, keeping a bright look out for several sunken coral
patches which exist near the track, and if the sun be not a-
head they will be distinctly seen; having run this distance
steer N.W. for 15 miles, when a sand bank surrounded by a
reef should be seen, and also Arnold's Bushy Island, in 11 deg.
S. on the larboard bow.
Three sand-banks, surrounded by small reefs bear E. by N.
10 miles from Arnold's Bushy Island.
The bottom now changes to mud, and the ground becomes
clear of sunken dangers.
Mount Adolphus Island (flat-topped) will lie seen bearing
N.W. 35 miles, and a course may be steered for Cape York,
passing between the reef Z of Captain King's track and
some reefs to the northward, in a clear channel of four miles
in width.
A ship passing in by Pandora's Entrance, in lat. 11 26 40
S. (a good and safe passage of two miles in width), should
steer for a vegetated sand-bank in lat. 11 19 30 S. ; whence a
N.W. course of 48 miles will take her to Arnold's Bushy
Island, when the middle track will be joined.
Good anchorage may be obtained in seven fathoms (fine
coral sand), under the southern Sir C. Hardy's Island. The
channel between the two large islands is perfectly clear, and
rounding the north end of the south island in seven kr eight
fathoms, at the distance of a cable and a half, a good berth
may be obtained off a sandy bay just round the bluff head of
the island.
Lat. of Observation Bay, 11 55 10 S,
Long. 143 33 18 E.
Variation 3 10 E.
High water at full and change, 9h. 15m. a.m.
Greatest rise, eight feet.
Fresh water may be obtained here from May till August,
but after that time the springs are dry.
When leaving the Hai dy's Isles with the intention of
passing into the main land by the Cockburn Reef, steer a
N.E. by N. course for four miles, by which means the dangers
of Pollard's Channel will be avoided.
In the month of September her Majesty's ship Fly watered
in a sandy bay about half a mile to the eastward of Cape
York ; wells were dug, and the water was good and abun-
dant. The bay may he known by a little low rock about
three or four feet above the water at its entrance.
It may be advisable here to mention, that in steering for
Raine's Island, care should be taken not to haul in for the
reefs until well to the northward of 13 30 south lat., a reef
having been discovered this past season by the Osprey
schooner, in lat. 14 south, and 146 20 east long. This reef
having been seen by two different ships, and both vessels
possessing good chronometers, the above position cannot be
far from the truth. See Government Gazette, 1845, No. 8,
p. 97, where sailing directions have been given to avoid the
Osprey Reef. It is there described to be in lat. 13 57, and
long. 146 34 east, differing about of long. from Captain
Blackwood's above more recent report.
The Alert or Lihou Reefs should also have a good berth
given to them of at least a degree of long., the current ap-
pearing to set very strong to the N.W. in the neighbourhood
at certain seasons.
N.B.—The courses above given are those by compass.
F. F. BLACKWOOD, Captain R.N.