Evening journal., 1915-01-04
HARBOR Of REFUGE
LIGHTHOUSE Shelter
It's a Good Place to Know
When Cruising on the
Bay
Bay
is NEAR THE
BREAKWATER LIGHT

A cruise to the far-down end Of
Delaware Bay is one that many
motorboats have taken, Just to get
acquainted with old Cape Henlopeu
lighthouse, the big light station at
the Delaware Breakwater, and to visit
the Harbor of Refuge. This harbor
is one that all cruising yachtmen on
the river should know, and know well,
as it is without doubt the finest place
to get into when you want to get
out of the wet on the Delaware River
and Bay.
The Harbor of Refuge is made up
of dikes. and back of their shelter
boats take refuge from the big storms
and for a safe anchorage. should they
be waiting for weather to sail up the
Delaware to Philadelphia. The ends
of these stone piles are marked so
that there will no misunderstanding
when entering at night. On the south
end is the Harbor of Refuge light
house. This is a structure three
stories high. placed on an iron cylin-
drical foundation The building is
painted white and the top of the
lantern is 81 feet from the water.
This light shows to shipping a white
flash every IL seconds. II flashes
for one second then is out for II
seconds, and then another flash for n
second and then out again for II
seconds, repeating this order. There
is also a red sector that shows red
between 800 degrees and 341 degrees.
There is a slight reddish light of 1876
and 347 degrees. The white light has
"a ,ouror of II mn oopdIoc apa f1,o rod
of 5,100 candles.
Don't confuse the Delaware Break
water Light with this light. There
should be no mistake if you know
the flashes of these big lights. The
Delaware Breakwater light flashes
for 2 1-2 sec0lds and then out for
2 1-2 seconds. Both these lights
may be seen when entering the bay
for a harbor, and they may be seen
coming down the bay. Also the light
on Cape Henlopen and Brandywine
light will be seen. so you must have
them all down fine to get where you
are sailing for, and as there are many
big rocks a mistake might mean a
new boat and a soaking for some
of the crew, if nothing worse. The
red sector of the Harbor of Refuge
light covers Hen and Chickens Shoals.
This lighthouse has a fog signal
and it keeps you guessing some. as
sometimes you may be able to hear
Overfalls, Delaware Breakwater
Front. Refuge Lighthouse and the
Brandywine Light signals all at
once.
The Harbor of Refuge fog signal is a
first class siren that gives a blast of
/ two seconds and then silent eight sec
onds, and then another blast of two
seconds and silent again for eight see
onds. and then blast for two seconds and
! then silent for 80 seconds Wouldn't that
jar you, especially if you had all the
other fog signals coming at the same
| time? There is only one way out of
it. should you wish to enter the Harbor
of Refuge; Set your mind on that par
ticular signal and pay no attention to
the others.
To count these seconds it is r good
plan to count like this: One and. two
and, three and, four and, up to 10. Then
eleven, twelve. thirteen. four teen and
so on. This will come very close TO a
second for each number Should YOU have
a stop-watch. you can time accurately
but you must not try to get the whole
signal at once II is better to get the
first signal. which in this case is two
seconds blast. Then snap back the watch
. to the starting point and let the silent
interval pass. which is eight seconds
and then wait for the next blast which
/ is two seconds, and be ready for the ST.
: lent interval of eight seconds. Time
/ this interval. Let the next blast of two
seconds pass and then be ready for the
! 3S seconds of interval. You have thus
accurately determined that the light
house you are sailing for is the right
one. You can now make calculations ia
enter the Harbor of Refuge.
Should you care to fish you have a
fine place in this harbor. A week can be
spent to advantage around the Break.
water and this Harbor of Refuge, as
there are many sights to be taken in
and Lewes, Del, to be visited. The
lights are well worth seeing, and the men
who have them in charge are fine fel
lows and will be glad to have you visit
them.