CAPE HENLOPEN HISTORY
1920
TEST AREA FOR
PHILADELPHIA BUILT SHIPS
Just off Cape Henlopen
Lighthouse, the Breakwater and Cape May is the official test
course for vessels built
in Philadelphia. To let the public know when the course is “ in
use “
red flags are flown from
steel towers on shore and the ends of the Breakwater. White
buoys set between the two
breakwaters define the course. These test were usually made on
Sundays, but in the last
war they were a daily occurrence.
The vessel being tested
will arrive at full speed at a shore tower with a red flag, and
race to
the red flag at the end of
Breakwater, making a run of one mile. Other testing is done
outside
the official course.
In these same waters, ocean
bound steamers have their compass adjusted by officials
before going out to sea.
Vessels are put through test involving every point of the compass
,
circling maneuvers, runs
north, east, south and west, to get the compass in an exact
position.
Abstract: The Baltimore
Sun, Sunday, November 14, 1920
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