headland shows too soon (Dover to Calais)

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[steamersam]

Hi, has anyone noticed that the headland of either Dover or Calais shows far too early in the crossing, you are barely a few miles into the crossing which is not even 1/4 of the way across and you can see the other side!! Try it, it spoils the experience... 

[Gernot1971]

Yes, thats right. And have you sail this turn sometimes at the night? The Coast shines so bright, that you think a nuclear power station is blown away, or that Rommel use a spotlight from the Westwall to the english coast. 

[Traddles]

Nothing unusual about this. It is only 22 miles across the Dover Strait, and the land behind Dover town is quite high. Where I live I can see Blackpool tower from the north coast of Wirral on a clear day and that is well over 30 miles away. From a height of 50 ft the horizon is 8.3 nautical miles away so that anything over 140 feet high on the other side of the strait will be visible on a clear day. This gives 8.3nm (from the bridge of a biggish ship) plus 13.8nm (from land of 140 ft height) which is 22.1 nm.  As you can guess I'm old fashioned and still work in feet.

Traddles.

[The Ferry Man]

Dover headland... from Calais... berth 5... Pride of Kent... So haven't even left the berth xD





What is slightly... weird is sometimes you can see the berths but no land... that is weird

Oh and also... French Headland... seen from the Prince of Wales Pier: