silly language question

[Bosje]

just a quick one: I know it's 'he lives south of london'
but I always thought that for nautical descriptions you would say:
'the ship sailed just south off Rockall'

but now i'm in doubt, lol
is that correct or am I mixing something up, is it simply 'just south of Rockall' as well?

thanks

edit: can't resist adding this as an unrelated bit of fun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e50APQxDDYw&feature=channel
:)

[Bosje]

hmm it's 'An island off the coast of Spain' though
but 'An island 50 miles west of the Spanish coast' ??? is that correct?

[jakethescot]

Sweet video.

[Brag]

hmm it's 'An island off the coast of Spain' though
but 'An island 50 miles west of the Spanish coast' ??? is that correct?

Both are correct. In nautical usage it is more common to say off. We hove to three miles off the coast waiting for daybreak. :DL

[Bosje]

no wonder i got confused

thanks a bunch mate :salute:

[Jimbuna]

Simple nautical terms....a play on words, nothing more.