Voyage of the HMS Leopard to Desolation Island

Voyage of the HMS Leopard to Desolation Island 1811 -1812 a recreation based on celestial sightings Presentation to the Brazos Valley Astronomy Club 21 June 2013 Don E. Bray. College Station, Texas 2013 http: //debclltx. com Photo W. Benjamin Bray, 2011

The epic seafaring series by Patrick O’Brian is cited as covering the Napoleonic Wars ( 1803 -1815). This period also includes the War of 1812 with the newly independent United States of America. Many scientific advances are on the horizon, namely steam power and radio communications. In this early period, the performance of the ultimate machine, the human sailor, as well as the designers and shipyards supporting these wooden ships, play a prominent role nautical history at this time. The voyage here is based on an actual chronicled voyage to New South Wales (now Australia), one of several missions intending to rescue Captain William S. Bligh after a rebellion to his authority. Captain Jack Aubrey and the HMS Leopard are fictional creations of Patrick O’Brian. Nonetheless, Captain Aubrey and his colleague, naturalist, medical doctor and spy, Stephan Maturin, have a strong following amongst nautical folks.

HMS Leopard http: //www. ctbasses. com/misc/Bruce. Trinque/aubrey 2. html

Comparison to other ships USS Constitution, in Boston harbor. Launched 1797, length 204 ft. Photo W. Benjamin Bray, 2012

Straight line route – Northern hemisphere

Straight line route – Southern hemisphere

Wind patterns – Jan to June King, Dean, Harbors and High Seas, Third Edition, Owl Press, New York, 2000.

http: //www. cannonade. net/

With grid lines for Southern Hemisphere

Antares from Bay of Biscay 04261811 Image obtained with Starry Night Enthusiast

Moon at Desolation Is. 01261812 Image obtained with Starry Night Enthusiast

Saturn at Desolation Is. 01291812 clear as a bell Image obtained with Starry Night Enthusiast

Conclusions • Length of recreated voyage reasonable compared to Dutch record of 129 days Holland to Cape Town. • Days lost in doldrums and affect of lost rudder added to length. • Navigation at poles affected by resolution of sextant. Line of sight same as at equator. • Dates Wed 12/25/1811 and Thurs 12/26/1811 do not exist due to leap year.

Don’t forget, it is all fact based on fiction, or vice-versus….

Arctic Moon, W. Benjamin Bray, 2011