Page 17

-17-

Thursday March 3rd. Lat, 43 [degrees]S. Long 60[degrees]S, sailed 222 miles in last
24 hrs. at last we are running our masting down, in the approved
manner. Strong following wind and sea, not so cold, everyone
saying "Port Victoria in 20 days" - or 18 or 21. My motto is
always "Wait and see" on a sailing ship. A. deserves a medal for
evading work, to-day she went on to the wheel with one of the boys
learning to steer whilst Steward did her jobs. They have rather
taken the view that it is no use expecting her to work.

Friday, March 4th. Good following wind and sea, 209 miles in the 24 hrs.
The first of the two smaller pigs was killed to-day. Steward wept,
and the gentle middle-aged "gent" said "Ah, well, the pig is now in
a piggy paradise eating acorns!" These rough sailor men!

Saturday, March, 5th. Dull day, still good wind, Lat. 43[degrees], Long 68[degrees].

Sunday. Mar. 6th. Good wind, dull cold and inclined to rain, 3000
miles to go. Roast pork for dinner..

Monday Mar. 6th. Another grey day, we are bowling along steadily
and smoothly. but the "approved manner" of "running our masting
down" has hardly materialized, the Roaring Forties are not even
purring! The following sea is not at all rough, the wind steady
but not strong. Everyone making plans for the arrival at Port
Victoria.

Tuesday, Mar. 8th. A sunny day - in patches - and wind freshening
considerably tonight, and Captain estimates between 10 and 17 days
to Port Victoria. Long 80 [degrees] odd today, also our 80th day at sea.
Gladys was a shop assistant before going to sea, one can almost
visualize him in the "Ladies" underwear!"

Wednesday Mar. 9th. The Roaring Forties must have resented the
remark about not even purring", as all day we have been racing
along with all sails set. A rather uncomfortable list between
20[degrees] and 25[degrees]; occasional crashes in pantry etc. In the 4pm to 8pm
watch we covered 50 miles, 229 for the previous 24 hours. Royals
and upper to 'gallants and flying jib taken in- every time two
whistles sound the crew tears its hair, they want every stitch of
canvas left on.

Thursday Mar.10th. A hectic night, wind roaring and blowing half
a gale, sails taken in. About 3.30 a.m. in a minor panic. Captain
woke up and heard crashes and banging below and thought the timber
keeping the ballast fast had shifted, he went on deck to find sails
he had ordered to be taken in were still up. There was much shout-
ing and roaring of men and wind for awhile. Wind increased all
night and a very heavy side sea, tremendous rollers at times, very
difficult to stand or do anything but hang on. Sat all the morning
in the shelter of the charts room and watched the seas. Covered
284 miles in 24 hours, 2100 miles to go. Wind roaring loudly and
rolling very bad at times.

Friday Mar. 11th. Another night of roaring wind and rolling, but