I seem to recall a documentary where there was reference to atmospheric conditions creating a ‘mirage’ which would have caused problems with those on watch.
Also that the sea was so calm and the weather so clear that the sea mirrored the sky so well that you couldn''t tell where one ended and one began. The big issue was though the rockets were visible if the morse lamp not so.
Ultimately the Californian crew didn't do anything wrong (by the law) but didn't do anything right either. Arguably Second Officer Stone should have done a lot more
I seem to recall a documentary where there was reference to atmospheric conditions creating a ‘mirage’ which would have caused problems with those on watch.
Also that the sea was so calm and the weather so clear that the sea mirrored the sky so well that you couldn''t tell where one ended and one began. The big issue was though the rockets were visible if the morse lamp not so.
Ultimately the Californian crew didn't do anything wrong (by the law) but didn't do anything right either. Arguably Second Officer Stone should have done a lot more