A Lightship Saga

For more than 200 years the lightships moored close to the most dangerous sandbanks of the United Kingdom and Ireland gave warning to sailing ships, steamers and motor vessels of increasing speed and size. They did not stop every shipwreck, but by firing guns and rockets and giving directions to lifeboats they helped to save many people who otherwise would have perished.

Anthony Lane explores conditions aboard these ships, exposed to all weathers, having to set sail and hope to avoid the adj...