cosonfused
1708
74
2
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 Captain John DS. Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo's position was LAT 0º 31' N and LONG 179 30' W. The date was 31 December 1899. "Know what this means?" First Mate Payton broke in, "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 the navigational freak of a lifetime. He called his navigators to the bridge to check & 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 & clear night worked in his favor. At mid-night the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line! The consequences of this bizarre position were many:
The forward part (bow) of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere & in the middle of summer.
The rear (stern) was in the Northern Hemisphere & in the middle of winter.
The date in the aft part of the ship was 31 December 1899.
In the bow (forward) part it was 1 January 1900.
This ship was therefore not only in:
Two different days,
Two different months,
Two different years,
Two different seasons
But in two different centuries - all at the same time!
https://imgur.com/gallery/ship-story-Y9z7M7U
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Warrimoo
Technically not my 16th as I have deleted many before it over the years.
RoboUnicornFishBalls
I'm glad i follow you. Thank you
cosonfused
mikenco
It’s a brilliant maritime dit, but it’s almost certainly a tall tale. The “perfect” alignment at midnight on New Year’s is highly improbable, and the real Date Line isn’t a clean straight line at 180°. The SS Warrimoo did sail between Vancouver and Australia, so crossing near that region wasn’t impossible. However, there’s no credible evidence that this exact century-straddling stunt ever took place.
Ultemus
AnastasiaM007
Nor can it be proved it didn't. If an experienced captain and navigator claimed they did this on calm seas and the travel plan made it possible, then they did. Saying they didn't because the lines aren't clear is as arbitrary aa the lines themselves.
ArthurT
Did so!
Did not!
Did so!
Did not: :|
dirtmarker
I bet you're fun at parties
mikenco
If all you have is unoriginal comments like that, I bet you're not.
dirtmarker
Who am I kidding you'd need friends to go to parties.
Badgerbadgerson3
Okay I was on your side at first, but geeze.
dirtmarker
That douche nozel just ruined what was a very good story. You know the kind where just a bit of exaggeration turns it into a great story. He just shit all over it. So I made the tired old gag to point that out. But they couldn't let that sit and doubled down on me. We'll I'm not the type to take that shit either so I responded. Now I get you from out in left field telling me I went too far. Nuts.