So the ship disappeared from the naked eye but then was made visible again with a telescope, OK that's how telescopes work however......
This only works over relatively short distances doesn't it?
My telescope can see the moon which is either 3,000 or some 240,000 ish miles away, importantly we all agree it is not less than 3,000 miles away so why can I not see the beaches of France with it from the UK? Why can I not view the ferry all the way across the channel?
I think the curve of the globe prevents it, can anyone offer other reasons?