Not only had Bower to contend with the wind resistance caused by
Titanic's four massive funnels but he also had to deal with the effect of the constantly changing tidal steams, some of which had spring rates of 3.5 knots.
Captain Smith had many years experience of taking ships in and out of Southampton. He would probably have known these waters as well as did Bower. In fact, many Liner Captains held Pilotage Licences for the ports they regularly sailed to and from in the UK. Smith was also an RN reserve and was very familiar with the situation on board the bridge of a British warship. Because of the foregoing, he would have been very relaxed indeed and his demeanor would have very little if anything to do with a careless or cavalier attitude.
That exchange between Bower and Smith tells me a lot about the man Bower and about Smith's knowledge of the supreme attitude of superior confidence that prevailed on the bridges of British warships then and for very many years thereafter.
Perhaps the little pause between Bower's question and Smith's answer was during the time a bearing of the approaching warship was being taken. That is the only way Smith could have been sure there was going to be a collision.
What brings you to believe that Smith charged into a known ice-field in the middle of the night, Georges? Where is the incontrovertible proof that he did so?
Here's a question for you Georges. It is on the subject of sail assisted passage.
Did you know that back in the 80's, a Le Tourneau Self Elevating, 3 leg drill barge sailed across the Atlantic without tugs and did so using her own thrusters assisted by a giant tri-sail set between he fore-leg and her stern legs?
here she is... the
Charles Rowan. My Company prepared the ocean passage
