The coasting pilot: Describing the sea-coasts, channels, soundings, sands, shoals, rocks, & dangers: the bayes, roads, harbours, rivers, ports, buoyes, beacons, and sea-marks, upon the coasts of England Flanders and Holland with directions to bring a shipp into any harbour on the said coasts. Being furnished with the new draughts, charts, and descriptions, gathered from ye experience and practise of diverse able and expert navigators of our English nation. / Collected and published by John Seller. Hydrographer in ordinary to the King.

A Description of the Sands, Shoals, Rocks, and Dangers, upon the South Coast of England, between Dover and Silly.

The Vane or Ripraps.

THE Vane or Ripraps is a Bank that lyeth a lit∣tle to the southwards of the Heads of Calice and Dever, some-what nearer to the French-Coast, it is but narrow, but in length it is four leagues, lying about N. N. E. and S. S. W. and so windeth it self southerly toward the Land of Bulleyn, bearing West by South from Calice-Cliff and South by East from Dover. The North-easter∣most end is the shoalest, not having more than nine, 10, or 11 foot at low-water: On both sides of this Bank, as well to the eastwards as the westwards thereof, you will have 20, 22, 23, and 24 fathom wa∣ter; betwixt this Bank and the Land lyeth also two or three Shoals, but not very dangerous, having three fa∣thom and a half, or four fathom at low-water.

Easterborrough-Head.

South of Arundel about six or seven miles, lyeth a Bank called Easterborrough-head, which dryeth at low-water, and at Spring-tydes about a furlong, being Rocks and Shindles: To avoid this danger, if you be bound to the southward from Sborum, run S. S. W. into the Sea until you get eighteen fathom, and then you may steer boldly W. S. W. and that course will lead you without the Owers; also close by this Shoal you will have fifteen fathom: from this to the Owers it is almost two leagues W. S. W. come no nearer than in twelve or thirteen fathom, and that depth will carry you with∣out the Owers. Between Easterborrough and the Owers lyeth a Ledge of Rocks, on which there is not above six foot at low-water: This Ledge is half a league to the North-west from Easterborrough-head.

The Owers.

W. S. W. five leagues from Arundel, thirteen leagues West by South, somewhat westerly from Beachy, about four leagues to the eastwards of the Wight, and half a league from the Shore, lyeth the Owers, being alwayes under water. The thwart Mark is, when Chichester Spire-steeple is N. N. W. from you, then are you thwart the souther side of it. For a longst Mark, set the Point of Dunness with your Compass, it will bear direct West by South, half southerly; Dunness W.S.W. is right upon them. To avoid the danger hereof, if you be coming from the eastwards, with a northerly wind, be sure to keep in 18 fathom water or more: al∣so coming from the westward, you must come no nearer than East by North, keeping your self in the afore∣said depth: Many have been deceived coming from Dunness, which steered East by North, and E. N. E. (not regarding that the latter part of the tyde sets into the Isle of Wight) which were brought on the Owers unexpectedly: If you are acquainted with them, you may sayl to the northwards between them and the Land.

The Black-Rocks.

From St. Hellens-point, being the eastermost Point of the Isle of Wight, runneth off a Riff E. N. E. two miles into the Sea, called the Black-Rocks: when Calver-Cliff is hid behind the North-east Point of the Island, then are you within this Riff; come no nearer it than in seven or eight fathom.

The Horse.

Within the foresaid Riff, in the Fair-way, between the Island and the Main, lyeth a Shoal called the Horse. The Marks for it are, when South-sea Castle, and a square Steeple within the Land are both in one, then are you thwart it. The Mark to go clear, is to keep Ports∣mouth Castle on the West side of the Wood; this Mark will carry you between the Horse and the Main: on it at low water you will have but ten foot. About it is good shoaling, come therefore no nearer it than in five or six fathoms. When St. Helens Church bears S.W. by West from you, then the South-east end of the Horse bears North-east by North, and the North end, North by East from you.

Nomans-Land.

Eastwards from the Point of the Road of Newport, lyeth a broad Sand called Nomans-Land, which falleth almost dry at low-water; it is so steep, that half a Ca∣bles length from it is twelve fathoms deep: When the Town of Ride, and the Wind-mill which standeth S. S. W. from it, are both in one, then are you thwart the midst of it. If you come so near the Shoar that the Wind-mills on the High-land of Wight be hid with the Land, then will you be aground against it; but as long as they are open you need not fear.

The Brambles.

Betwixt Cowes-Road and Calshot-Castle, lyeth a hard Shoal, nearest the North Shore in the Fair-way, called the Brambles, and reacheth as far thwart as Newport; at low-water and Spring-tydes it falleth almost dry; then you may know it by the Sea breaking over it. To avoid it, keep close to the Isle until you come into Cowes-Road.

The Swing-hills.

West about a mile from Hurst-Castle, lyeth the North Point of the Swing-hills, which you must be very care∣ful to keep clear of that sayl in or out at the Needles; for the Flood setteth on the Needles, and the Ebb on the said Swing-hills: Therefore if you go out on the Ebb, you must lie off South, or South by West. In sayling in at the Needles, you must come within a Cables length of them to avoid the foresaid Shoal, where you will have five fathom at low-water.

The Eddystone.

Two leagues South, a little easterly from Ram-head, lyeth a Rock above-water called Eddystone. It lyeth from the Point of Plymouth N. N. E. distant about four leagues, being alwayes above water.

Sunken-Rocks in Plymouth-Sound.

In the Sound of Plymouth, not far to the northward of the Manstone, lie two or three sunken Rocks, on which is at low-water not above three fathoms. The Marks for them are these; To the eastwards of Ply∣mouth standeth a Tower called Mount-Batten, with a Mill; and to the eastwards of Drakes-Island standeth a House called Mount-Edgcomb; when the Turret there∣of cometh over the Point on the West side of the I∣sland, and Mount-Batten and the Mill come one in the other, then are you upon the innermost Sunken-Rock, which bath on it four fathom at low-water. But when the Point of Hamose cometh without the Point to the westward of the Island, and the foresaid Tower and Mill one in the other, then are you on the outermost Rock, where is at low-water and Spring-tydes three fathom and a half.

The Manacles.

To the northwards of the eastermost Point of the Lizard, betwixt Hilford and the foresaid Point lie some Rocks a league and half from the Shore, called the Ma∣nacles, South by East from the Harbour of Falmouth, and E. N. E. from the Point, many whereof do appear at low-water, at some of them at high; betwixt them and the Shore it is very foul and rocky, so that you can∣not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 through betwixt them without great danger: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you come out of Falmouth, and are bound to the ••••••twards, you must not come near the South than S. S. E. and South-east by South, according as the Wind shall be, for to run clear of the foresaid Rocks.

A Sunken-Rock near the Lands-end.

About a league West from the Lands end, and half a league without the Land, lyeth a sunken Rock, which is dry at low-water: Thwart of the Rock standeth a Church upon the Land; which when you can but see over the high Land, then are you thwart the said Rock; But when the Church is hid behind the Land that you cannot see it, then are you nearer the Land than the Rock, so may you go through betwixt it and the Land; but keeping the Church open of the Land, then are you clear without it.

The Long-ships.

At the Lands end of England lies the Long-ships, you may run within them, as well to the northwards as to the southwards of them, and come to an anchor in eight or nine fathoms; coming in there from the south∣wards it is narrowest, but ten fathom: Close to the North Point of the Lands-end lyeth also a sunken Rock, which you must avoid when you sayl in there.

The Seven-stones.

Between the Lands-end and Silly, lie the Seven∣stones, West, and West by South, almost four leagues from the Lands-end, and N. E. by East, and E. N. E. almost three leagues from Silly, which is a range of Rocks that appear not above-water, but you may see it break over them.

The Gulf.

S.S.W. & S.W. by South, 3 leagues from the Lands∣end, and five leagues East from Silly, lyeth a sharp Rock called the Gulf, which cometh at half-flood a∣bove water, and is round about indifferent clean.

A Table of the Soundings coming into the Channel, according to the respective Bearings and Distances of several Places, viz. Silly, Seams, Ushant, &c. Shewing also the Nature of the Ground.

Names.	Bearings.	Distan.	Depth.	Latit.	Nature of the Ground.
				G.	M.
Silly.	North.	10 or 12	65	49	15	Broken Shells, with white and red Sand.
Silly.	E. N. E.	7	60	49	15	Some black Sand.
Silly.	E. N. E.	16 or 20	80	49	15	A kind of Rocky Ground.
Silly.	E. by N.	14 or 16	72	49	15	A Peppery Sand, with yellow Sand amongst it.
Silly.	E. by N.	7 or 5	72	49	15	Oazy like to Mustard-seed, with broken Shells amongst it.
Silly.	E. N. E.	8	60	49	15	Black Sand.
Silly.	E. N. E.	7	60	49	30	Small Sand.
Silly.	N. E. by E.	20 or 22	85	49	10	Sand and Owse together.
Silly.	N. E. by E.	10	55	49	20	Small white and red Sand, with Shells amongst it like Nits.

Silly.	N. E. by N.	10	57	49	20	Small red Sand.
Silly.	E. by N.	14 or 16	72	48	50	Sand somewhat peppery, black and yellow.
Silly.	N. E. by E.	50	100	49	50	White Sand, with Owse and Nits amongst it.
Silly.	N. W.	4 or 5	50	50	10	Branny Sand, and black Sand amongst it, as it were Nits, and ma∣ny black and broken Shells.
Silly.	E. by S.	8	58	50	12	Owsey Sand, and some of St. Jame's Shells amongst it.
Silly.	S. S. E.	5	45	50	12	White Sand, Shells amongst it.
Silly.	E. by N.	25	72	49	50	Stones, black, white, and red, with Owse amongst it.
Silly.	N. E. by E.	25	64	49	50	Branny Sand, and Shells white and red like grains of Meal.
Silly.	N. E. by E.	6	48	49	10	Black Sand.
Silly.	E. N. E.	7	60	49	40	Black Sand.
Silly.	South.	5	50	50	20	Branny Sand as big as Wheat-meal.
Silly.	N. E.	10	65	49	40	Small branny Sand, Herring-bones, and small stones, as it were Nettles.
Silly.	N. N. W.	33	77	48	52	Red Sand, and Shells amongst it.
Silly.	N. W. by N.	7	54	49	40	Some more Shells; the Lizard N. E. distance 18 leagues.
Silly.	E. by N.	20	70	49	40	White owsey Sand like mustard-seed, and pieces of shells amongst it.
Silly.	N. E. by E.	13	65	49	43	Branny Sand, some pieces of shells.
Silly.	N. W.	7	60	49	47	Stony Ground.
Silly.	E. by N.	84	97	49	50	Fine white Sand.
Silly.	N. N. E.	100	102	49	47	White Sand, and then you are entring upon the Bank.
Silly.	North.	10	65	49	47	White Sand, and that is the East part of the bank.
Silly.	S. S. E.	12	60			Course Owse.
Silly.	N. W. by W.	10	54	49	47	Sand with little red shells amongst it.
Silly.	E. S. E.	6	53			Course Sand, and fine red shells.
Silly.	N. W. by W.	4	61	50	25	Red, mixt with black Sand, and some glistering white shells and dents in them.
Silly.	W. by N.	13	63	50	25	Fine white Sand, with a little Owse.
Silly.	West.	21	66	50	08	Red Sand, with small black Sand, and some white glistering shells, and some small red shells amongst it.
Silly.	W. half S.	29	68	50	00	Fine Sand, of an owsey colour, with some glistering shells among it.
Silly.	N. W. by W.	2	44			Course shells and Sand, with fine thin shells, some small things like the points of broken Needles.
Silly.	W. by S.	32	75	49	50	Fine white Sand, small glistering shells, & some small peppery Sand.
Silly.	W. S. W.½ W.	34 or 35	81	49	40	Fine white Sand, with some long slender white glistering shells, and some peppery Sand amongst it.
Silly.	E. by N.	20	76	49	41	White owzie Sand, with some shells.
Silly.	E. N. E.	55	103			Fine white Sand.
Silly.	N. E. by E.	48	100	48	49	Sand somewhat white, with Hakes teeth.
Silly.	N. E. by E.	25	68			Like Wheat-bran, with some shells.
Silly.	N. by E.	18	68			Small shingly red Sand, and white, with some black and white scollop shells.
Silly.	W. by S.	3	40			Like broken Wheat, or course Bran.
Silly.	E. S. E.	13	62			Course durty owzie Sand, somewhat blackish.

Seams.	N. E.	12	68	47	50	Branny Sand, with some white stones as big as Almonds, and other small gravel stones, and broken shells.
Seams.	N. N. W.	4	40	48	28	Like as before.
Seams.	E. by N.	12	100	48	30	Branny Sand, with stones, as big as Pease, & little shells among it
Seams.	N. E. by E.	7	63	48	15	Branny Sand, and many small shells like Wheat and small Mace.
Seams.	East.	25	70	48	36	Stones like Grains, and stones as big as little Beans.
Seams.	E. by N.	25	100	48	36	Red Sand, broken shells, and black stones.
Seams.	North.	18	90	48	00	Red Sand, and black stones like Salt-stones.
Seams.	N. E. by N.	7	42	48	18	Cockle-shells.
The Bridg of the Seams.	E. half S.	3 or 4	62			Small scollop shells, with some Hakes teeth.
Ushant.	East.	18 or 20	70	49	00	Branny Sand, and some few shells amongst it.
Ushant.	S. E. by E.	20	72	49	15	Great stones like Beans & Pease, gray & great dents in the Tallow.
Ushant.	East.	6	65	48	00	Red Sand, shells and stones, things amongst like little points of Needles.
Ushant.	East.	15 or 16	70	49	15	Fine white Sand.
Ushant.	East.	18 or 20	72	49	15	Branny Sand, and some small shells amongst it.
Ushant.	East.	4	82	49	15	Little stones like Grains, black and red, with little shells, as it were pieces of Awles points.
Ushant.	N. E.	29	85	48	50	Great pieces of Cockle-shells, and little pieces amongst it.
Ushant.	East.	33	87	49	15	Dazling Sand in the likeness of Barley-straw.
Ushant.	E. S. E.	15	70	49	15	Great shells, gray and red, with pieces of broken Cockle-shells amongst it.
Ushant.	E. S. E.	12	68	49	20	White and gross Sand, with shells and peppery Sand amongst it.
Ushant.	S. E. by E.	9	65	49	15	Sand, and some shells.
Ushant.	N. E. by E.	7	68	48	36	Sand like Mace, or points of Feathers, some gray and some white.
Ushant.	North.	5 or 6	63	48	36	Full of small Mace-sand.
Ushant.	East.	4	6	49	10	Full of Mace-sand, and broken shells.
Ushant.	N. by E.	18	80	48	15	Round stones, mingled with Scollop-shells.
Ushant.	E. by N.	12	70	48	40	White shells.
Ushant.	E. S. E.	8	64 or 68	49	05	White shells, and little fine stones.
Ushant.	E. N. E.	12 or 14	68	48	36	Small shells, and things like straws or Herring-bones, and some black Mace-sand amongst it.
Ushant.	N. E.	25	50 or 55	48	10	Sand, gray and brown, and some small white shells, with black stones amongst it.
Ushant.	S. E. by E.	7	65	48	30	St. James▪s shells.
Ushant.	N. E. by E.	7 or 8	68	48	30	Mace-sand white and gray.
Ushant.	E. by N.	25	85	48	30	White and gray Sand, with small red stones, like hake Teeth.

Ushant.	E. by S.	4	63	48	56	Shells like Perwincles.
Ushant.	S. E. by E.	15	60	49	25	Small scollop shells, with some small shingly stones.
Ushant.	E. S. E.	5 or 6	60			Most Hakes teeth, with some shells like the Husks of Oatmeal.
Ushant.	N. E. by N.	11	60			Small shells mashed together, as if pounded in a Morter, and small Hakes teeth.
Gulf.	N. by E.	1 mile	40			Mashey shells like husks of Oatmeal.
Rock.	N. by W.	1 mile	38			With some Hakes teeth.
Gulf.	S. S. W.	1 mile	31			Great shingley stones as big as Beans.
Rock.	N. by W.	1 mile	37			Course ground, and mashey shells.
Near the 7 Stones, betwee them & Silly, they bearing	N. by E.		35			All rough and stony ground.
Nearest Silly, they bearing.	N. by E.		40
Long-ships	E. N. E.	3 mile	33
Rocks.	And within shot	1 mile	32			Rocky ground.
Lands-end.	N. by W.	2 mile	33
Lands-end.	North.	6 & ½	50			Mashey ground, like husks of Oatmeal and small stones.
	N. by E.	3	32
Mousoele.	North.	3	33			All fine Sand, with white and red mingled.
	N. N. W.	2	27
Lizard.	N. E. by N.	10 ½	53			Mashey shells, and some Hakes teeth.
	N. E.	6 ½	48			Mashey shells, and some scollop shells.
	N. N. E.	11	54
Lizard.	N. N. E.	9 ••	52			Mashey shells like the husks of Oatmeal, and some hakes teeth.
	N. N. E.	8	50
	N. by E.	15	58			Mashey shells, and some Hakes teeth.
Lizard.	N. E. by E.	12	57			Some scollop shells.
	N. E. by E.	4	44			Great stones, and rough ground.
Lizard.	North.	1	39			Great rough sh•••••••• as big as Deans; and so is the ground right thwart of the Lizard, from the very point to 4 leagues off.
Lizard.	N. W.	5	45			Gray Sand like the flower of Oatmeal.
	N. W.	3	43			Mashey shells, and some stones.
Lizard.	W. by N.	4 ••	40			White mashey shells and white stones.
Lizard.	W. N. W.	between 3 & 4	45			Small shingly stones, and mashey brown shells.
Lizard.	W. by S.
Falmouth.	N. W. by N.	30	41			Black gravelly ground, with some small stones.
Manacles.	W. N. W.
Deadman.	N. W. by N.	30	37			Small redish gravel, some small shells, with small stones.
Rambead.	North.	10	46			Like the dust of a Grind-stone, with many Hakes teeth, and some shells.
	North.	1 mile	35			Dirty brown Sand, and some Hakes teeth.
Edystone.	West.	2 mile	34			Dirty brown Sand.
	South.	1 mile	26			Fine Sand, and within this 28 and 30 fathom.
Deadman.	N. E. by N.	5	43			Fine gray Sand.
	N. N. E.	3	30			Fishing ground, the offermost ground as above said, but the two nethermost Soundings black and shingly stones and gravel.
Lonland.	North.	5 mile	27
	North.	•• mile	18
Between Boult and Salcome.	One mile thwart off.		26			Shingly ground with some shells.
	N. by E. Northerly.	8 ••	40			Like the dust of a Grind-stone with Hakes teeth, and shells, and fine white Sand.
Start.	N. W. Westerly.
	N. W. by W.	4 ••	43

Start.	N. W. by N.	3	38			Gravelly Sands, small stones, and some shells.
	N. W. westerly	12	38			Reddish shells, mashed as if beaten in a Morter, fine white Sand, scollop shells, and small stones.
	N. W. by W.	14	42
Berry.	N. by W.	3	27			Fine black peppery Sand.
	N. W. by N.	4	35
Portland.	N. E. by E.	8	35			Small shingly stones as big as Pease.
	North.	8	40			Stremy ground, small stones.
	N. by E.	5 ½	33			With some black Sand.
Portland.	N. E. by N.	11	41			Fine Sand, and scollop shells.
	N. N. E.	8	40			Fine Sand, scollop shells, and small shingly stones.
Ga••nsey.	S. E. by E.	5	42			Shingly stones as big as Pease.
Caskets.	South.	6	40			Shingly stones, and scollop shells.
St. Albton.	N. by E.	5	28			Stony ground, dents in the Tallow, and nothing come up but brown Sand that will crumble between your fingers.
	N. by W.	4	27
Portland.	N. E. by E.	2	27			Shingly ground.
	W. N. W.	2	20			Small stones.
Needles.	N. E. by E.	2	17			Great shingly ground.
	N. E. casterly	2 ½	19			Small shingly ground.
	N. E.	2	13			Rocky ground.
The Body of the Isle of Wight, Donnose, Needles.	N. by W.	3	20
	E. by N.	4	21			All the ground from St. Albions to the East end of the Wight, is chalkie, it will make dents in the Tallow, and nothing come up but blown Sand in rowls, which will crumble in your fingers.
	N. by E.	3	18
	North.	3	18
	N. by W.
Donnose.	W. by S.	4	16			Sand and Gravel, a kind of fishing-ground, rough ground, & some big stones; take notice that the Sand & Gravel is for 21 fathom
	West.	4	21
Donnose.	W. N. W.	8	33			Fishing ground, somewhat red, with some stones as big as Pease, and some as Beans.
	W. by N.	6	26
Arundel.	N. by W.	3 ½	16			Gravelly ground.
Beachy.	N. E.	5	38			Gravel and shingly stony ground like blew Slates broken in pieces.
	N. F	4	32
Beachy.	E. by N.	4	31			Gravelly shingly small ground.
Beachy.	N. N. E.	3	30			Gravelly Sand.
	North.	3	33			Gravelly, mixt with black Sand.
	N. by W.	3	23			Gravelly Sand, with some small stones.
Beachy.	E. by N.		15			Gravelly ground.
Arundel.	North.		15
	E. northerly.
Beachy.	And Sboram,	8	17			Gravelly Sand.
	N. by E.
Beachy.	N. W. by W.	4	21			Gross black Stones.
Fairlee.	N. by E.	3	20			Gravelly Sand, with some shells.
	Northerly.	4	27			Red shingly Sand with some shells.
Fairlee.	N. N. W.	4	20			Fine fishing ground, and sometimes you shall have five Fingers stick on the Tallow.
		3	16
Fairlee.	N. by W.	8	10			Gravelly Sand upon a Bank called the Sow, our Fishermen fish near it.
			12
Fairlee.	N. W.	3	17			Gravelly Sand, with small shingly stones.
Fairlee.	N. W. westerly	3 ½				Soft owsie ground, not to be perceived, and nothing upon the Tallow, but their Sounding is but one place not above 2 casts.
Dungeness.	N. by W.	2 ½	17
Dungeness.	N. by E.	1 mile	18			Shingly ground, with small stones, and some times small shells amongst it.
	N. by W.	2 mile	21
Dungeness.	N. W.	2 ½	22			Very fine white Sand.
		3	23
Blackness.		2	28			Stony ground.
Calice-Cliff	East.					Rough ground.
Balloin.	E. by S.	2				The same ground.

Staples.	E. by N.	3	27			Fine Sand.
	And East.
Flats.	E. by S.	4	29			Slate and fine Sand.
	E. S. E.
Free-port.	S. E.	2 ½	16 or 18			Stony ground.
	S. E. by E.	3
Deep.	Between		14			Great stones.
	S. E.	4	15
	S. E. by E.		16

Notes

• Easterbor∣rough-Head.
• A Ledge of Rocks.
• Owers.
• Marks.
• Black-Rock.
• Horse.
• Marks.
• Nomans-Land.
• Brambles.
• Swing-Hills.
• Eddystone.
• 〈…〉〈…〉 Sound.
• The Ma∣nacles.
• A sunken Rock near the Lands-end.
• Long∣ships.
• Seven-Stones.