Harbour Point Multi-Cache
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A cache by [DELETED_USER]
Hidden
:
1/12/2012
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A short 2 stage multi-cache that starts at a marker and then takes
you along the coastal route.
The harbour for Irvine has a long history and once was one of the
most prominent ports in Scotland after Glasgow. Across from the
main harbour itself there was a terminal for the ICI-Nobel
Explosives plant on the River Garnock. Much of the harbour went
into decline in the 19th century when Glasgow, Greenock and Port
Glasgow achieved higher prominence as sea ports. Despite this,
there was still commercial sea traffic, though the harbour went
into further decline in the 20th century. The main shipping in the
20th century was light coastal traffic and vessels destined for the
Nobel Explosives facility. This facility had its own quay, which,
although now disused, is still visible from Irvine Harbour. A
shipyard on the River Irvine, the Ayrshire Dockyard Company,
remained active until after World War II, though its last ship was
built just prior to the war.
Afterwards it was involved in refitting ships and also in the
manufacture of fittings for other vessels including the Cunard
liner Queen Elizabeth 2. Irvine Harbour is now officially closed as
a commercial port and houses an increasing number of privately
owned pleasure craft. It is also home to part of the Scottish
Maritime Museum with numerous vessels on display, including the
"Spartan", one of the last surviving Clyde puffers.
Irvine Harbour is home to a unique and distinctive building which
marked the tide level. It was built in 1906 and devised by Martin
Boyd, the harbourmaster at that time. The Automatic Tide Signaling
Apparatus indicated the tide's state in two ways depending on the
time of day. During daylight, the level was marked with a ball and
pulley system attached to the mast. At night, a number of lamps
marked the tidal level. Unfortunately the building has fallen into
some disrepair and the mast partially dismantled. There have been
plans to try to refurbish this unusual building which so far, has
come to nothing.
During World War II a Royal Observer Corps watchtower was sited in
this building, giving a wide overall view of the Firth of Clyde. It
is also credited with the first visual sighting of Rudolf Hess's
Messerschmitt 110 in 1941. Irvine Harbour was a prime target for
Adolf Hitler's invasion of the British Isles, being a major boating
district and also in near vicinity to the ICI weapons
development.
The cache is located at N55 AB.CDE W004 FG.HJK.
To work out the co-ordinates, you'll need to find the Irvine
Harbour Point marker and note the distances to various places in
the world.
A = Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania 43A1 miles
B = Hong Kong, China B196 miles
C = Sydney, Australia 915C miles
D = Kirkwall, Orkney 2D0 miles
E = Buenos Aires, Argentina 617E miles
F = St Petersburg, Russia 113F miles
G = Anchorage, Alaska 36G1 miles
H = Porto, Portugal H81 miles
J = Riga, Latvia J57 miles
K = New York, USA K781 miles
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
pbnfgny ebbg