“Today we have done from 10 –12 knot an hour. We are now in Lat: 43 30” S & 58 37” E & we shall not sight any land now till we get to Australia. At 12 we are 3 hours in advance of London time & no doubt some of you lazy folk are only just turning out. I have been in bed all day today trying to get rid of a small attack of rheumatism but which is very painful about the neck & shoulders. This morning was a much warmer day but only a little sun with plenty of mist making the decks very damp & slippery.
Had a game of cards in the evening & went to bed at 9.30.”
Extract from A.Whelen’s Australia travel journal sailing from England in 1878 aboard the iron clipper ‘Hesperides’
