Table 7: H.M.S. London, Sunday 9th September. 1781

  H  |  K  |   Courses   | Winds |          Remarks          |

  6     2         E S E         N E           Fresh Breezes

   7     3             “              “                      “

  8     ½      N W b N        “                      “

  9     3        N N W          “                      “

 10    2             “                “                      “

 11    3         N b W      N E b E       

 12    2             “               “                 Fresh Gales

  1     0             “               “                Fresh Breezes

  2     0             “             ½ W                    “

  3     1             “                “                        “

  4     1             “                “                        “

  5     1             “                “                        “

  6     1             “                “                        “

  7     1            N            E N E                    “

  8     2           S E               “                        “

H = Hour (Time – the nautical day begins at 12 noon rather than at 12 midnight)

K = Speed (in knots)

Course = Ship’s heading in points

Winds = Wind’s heading in points

Remarks = References to wind speed

                        Fresh Breezes = 17-21 knots

                        Fresh Gales = 34-40 knots

Note: Ships regulated their speed by the number and type of sails they set and the way the sails were set.  A higher wind speed on the beam would push a ship farther off course proportional to the speed.  That is, a fresh breeze might push a ship 5° off of its course while a fresh gale may push the ship 10° off of its course.