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Thread ID: 94959 2008-11-18 20:08:00 For Your Edification Roscoe (6288) PC World Chat
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721287 2008-11-18 20:08:00 From Whitaker's Almanack 1932 - some amusing poetry:

THE RULE OF THE ROAD

The Rule of the Road is a paradox quite,
For in driving your carriage along,
If you bear to the left you are sure to go right,
If you bear to the right you are wrong .

But in walking the streets ‘tis a different case,
To the right it is right you should steer,
On the left should be left enough clear space
For the people who wish to walk there .

THE WALKER’S MAXIMS .
(From The Times, April 9th 1930 . )

Two rules the walker must obey
If he would reach his home to-day –
On Roadway always keep to the Right
On Footpath just the op-po-site .
G . BUCKSTON BROWNE .

THE RULE OF THE ROAD AT SEA
1 . Two steamships meeting .
When both side-lights you see ahead,
Port your helm, and show your RED .

2 . Two steamships passing .
GREEN to GREEN, or RED to RED,
Perfect safety - go a-head!

3 . Two steamships crossing .
If to your starboard RED appear,
It is your duty to keep clear;
To act as judgment says is proper;-
To Port – or Starboard – Back or Stop her .
But when upon your port is seen
A Steamer’s starboard light of GREEN,
There’s not so much for you to do,
For GREEN to Port keeps clear of you .
Both in safety and in doubt,
Always keep a good look-out;
In danger, with no room to turn,
Ease her – stop her – go astern .

Whitaker's Almanac was/is an annual (still printed?) that contains much information that is, I think, of little interest to the general public but the book is of interest if just for it's age .

Some of the information included are on such hot topics as: Principal London Clubs, Publishers and Their Addresses, Principal Daily Newspapers in Gt . Britain and other such seemingly unavailing facts .

It does include some historical tales such as the story of The Indian Empire which " . . . extends over a territory larger than the Continent of Europe without Russia . "

I suppose that it was an almanac (with many dry subjects) of interest to some, but I wonder what type of person would purchase a book of that type? 		Roscoe (6288)
721288 2008-11-18 20:15:00 Hi Roscoe.
" THE RULE OF THE ROAD AT SEA
1. Two steamships meeting.
When both side-lights you see ahead,
Port your helm, and show your RED."

This "rule" would get you in to deep ****. See here:
www.thamespolicemuseum.org.uk 		Scouse (83)
721289 2008-11-18 20:41:00 Scouse: There is always an opposing view to everything, is there not?

But I just thought that it may be of interest and somewhat amusing. Everything else in the almanac is so dry!:waughh: 		Roscoe (6288)
721290 2008-11-18 22:12:00 Hi Roscoe.
" THE RULE OF THE ROAD AT SEA
1. Two steamships meeting.
When both side-lights you see ahead,
Port your helm, and show your RED. "

This " rule " would get you in to deep ****. See here:
www.thamespolicemuseum.org.uk

What does " port your helm " mean? To me it suggests steering to port, which is surely the opposite to what you should do. If a ship is coming straight towards you, surely you steer to starboard so that you will pass port side to port side? What am I missing here? 		John H (8)
721291 2008-11-18 23:48:00 What does "port your helm" mean? To me it suggests steering to port, which is surely the opposite to what you should do . If a ship is coming straight towards you, surely you steer to starboard so that you will pass port side to port side? What am I missing here?

John: That is what I would have thought as well, but if you steer to port you would be passing starboard to starboard, so it seems that it means steer to starboard . Somewhat confusing to us landlubbers but I suppose mariners understand the meaning .

The rule is that all vessels shall pass port to port and so I can only assume that "port your helm" means that you turn to starboard so you "show your RED" to the other ship .

Isn't it surprising the confusion one can create when quoting an interesting 76 year old book!:waughh: 		Roscoe (6288)
721292 2008-11-19 00:56:00 Roscoe - I suppose that is logical (I know the port to port rule), but saying "port your helm" seems counter intuitive. Oh well. John H (8)
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