Freak of Navigationpppp
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 result to the master, Captain John Phillips.
The Warrimoo's position was LAT. 0 degrees 31' N and LON. 179 degrees 30'W.
The date was 30 December 1899.
First Mate Payton broke in....."You know what this means.....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 this navigational freak of a lifetime.
He called his navigators to the bridge to check and double check the ship's position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark.
Then he adjusted the engine speed.
The calm weather and clear night worked in his favour.
At midnight the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crosses the International Date Line.
The consequences of this _*bizarre position*_ were several.
The *bow of the ship* was in the _Southern Hemisphere_ and
in the middle of summer.
The *stern* was in the _Northern Hemisphere_ and in the middle of winter.
The date in the aft part of the ship was *31 December 1899*.
Forward it was *1 January 1900*.
*This ship was therefore not only in _two different days_, two different months, two different years and _two different seasons_, but in _two different centuries_, all at the same time* ....!!!!
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 result to the master, Captain John Phillips.
The Warrimoo's position was LAT. 0 degrees 31' N and LON. 179 degrees 30'W.
The date was 30 December 1899.
First Mate Payton broke in....."You know what this means.....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 this navigational freak of a lifetime.
He called his navigators to the bridge to check and double check the ship's position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark.
Then he adjusted the engine speed.
The calm weather and clear night worked in his favour.
At midnight the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crosses the International Date Line.
The consequences of this _*bizarre position*_ were several.
The *bow of the ship* was in the _Southern Hemisphere_ and
in the middle of summer.
The *stern* was in the _Northern Hemisphere_ and in the middle of winter.
The date in the aft part of the ship was *31 December 1899*.
Forward it was *1 January 1900*.
*This ship was therefore not only in _two different days_, two different months, two different years and _two different seasons_, but in _two different centuries_, all at the same time* ....!!!!