Distance of boats to the ship at 220

[Manuel Reiprich]

Hello all

I think it is time to start a thread to this theme. My question is: What was, as we know, the distance (and the direction) of each boat to the ship when it sank? What was the nearest boat, what the farthest boat?

Cordially

Manuel

 

[Peter Engberg-Klarström]

Hello Manuel, this is an interesting topic. Some of the survivors in the boats described the distance from the ship, i e the occupants of boat 13 who stated they were quite some distance from the ship when it sank. Steward Ray thought they were 1 250 yards away and Thomas Oxenham just stated 'a considerable distance'. I can't remember what Beesley said. A figure such as Ray's must, of course, be treated as a rough estimate - it would be virtually impossible to state with any accuracy exactly how far away from the ship they were.
Most descriptions are vague like Oxenham's, but they give you an impression as to whether they were close or at some distance.

Best regards,

Peter

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Manuel:

I'd think that boats D and 4 were very near to Titanic when she went down, since they were the last launched. Obviously boats A and B were nearby since they just floated off as she sank.

Boat 1 was not much more than 200 yards away and, according to accounts, was at a point slightly forward of the ship rather than broadside of her.

Accounts seem to indicate boat 8 was quite a distance away. It was one of the ones that had been attempting to reach the light on the horizon.

My guess is boat 11 can't have been very far away, since it was so very heavily loaded and may even have left the ship later than the officially accepted time.

I think boat 2 (or was it D?) rowed along the side of the ship and around the stern and may have been fairly close to the ship as well.

Peter, Bill Wormstedt and others here are the experts on the lifeboats.

 

[Peter Engberg-Klarström]

Manuel - boats 9 and 15 seem to have been some 500 yards away. This means they were probably closer to the ship than 13. One of the stewards in No 11 stated they were some 300 yards away, i e probably even closer than 9, 13 or 15. One crewman in No 16 said they were some 800 yards away. Again, these figures must be interpreted as rough estimates, but they do give you some sort of an idea how far away they were. I believe Randy is right; boats D and 4 were not far away when the ship sank. I have a feeling that boat C didn't get that far away, either.

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Apart from the disabled collapsibles A and B, I should think that boat 4 was closest to Titanic when she went down. Perkis gave an estimate of 'six lengths' - just 60 yards. certainly the role played by no 4 in picking up people from the water immediately before and after the sinking would support the idea that it was very close indeed.

 

[Manuel Reiprich]

Hello all,
i am working on a picture showing the Titanic during the final plunge with a lifeboat in the foreground 150 - 200 yards away from the ship, in the direction of the port side's bow. Which boat could i take? I mean, which boat was near this position? Bob Godfrey wrote that number 4 was closer to the ship than 200 yards. But what is with number 6? What do we know about the distance and the direction of this famous boat?

Cordially

Manuel Reiprich

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Hichens testified to a distance of about a mile, but seemed to be none too sure. Fleet, on his own admission, couldn't judge distance at all. Major Peuchen, who was probably the most competent observer in the boat, was also unsure but he estimated that they saw the ship go down from a distance of just over half a mile.

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Manuel, if you're looking for a boat which was very close to the port bow, your best choice is collapsible D. It was launched from that area just before the final plunge and, according to QM Bright (in charge), they were not much more than a hundred yards clear when the ship went down.

 

[Manuel Reiprich]

Wow, I think that was the fastest answer I have ever seen!!! And Bob, did you realize that you have post your message exactly at 2.20? Thats a sign!
Thanks a lot for this answers, but Bob, I think I will take boat 4, because boat D with its gray canvas sidewall doesn't look as pretty as one of the big wooden boats like 4 with its white sidewall.
( On this point I wont give a **** about the historical correctness, Haha)

Best regards
Manuel

 

[João Carlos Pereira Martins]

Does anybody know the position of Boat 7 at 2.20? I suppose it would be very far away from the ship because it was the first lifeboat launched into the water.

 

[João Carlos Pereira Martins]

Can anybody answer me, please?This information is essential for my fictional story.

Regards, João

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Make a note of the crew members present in that boat. Then go to the 'Titanic Inquiry Project' website and read the testimonies they gave at the inquiries.

 

[João Carlos Pereira Martins]

Thanks! I'm very pleased for your suggestion and I've just finished to read Mr Hogg's testimony and he said the boat was about a mile from the ship.

Great Summer! (My exams finished today so, I've plenty of time to waste in ET.I know that in Portugal is much more hotter than there, in UK, but never minds. Here it is 34º centigrade during the day!!)