“Another beautiful day. We have now done about 1400 miles & are now off the coast of the Madiera’s. Today we sighted a small schooner & early this morning we saw a large shark. Arthur tried his hand again, at fishing for the pilot fish, which always go in front of the sharks, but with […]
15th October 1878 – 19th day
“During the night a squall came on & made us ship a little lot of water which wetted some of the sailors & I heard some of them offering up their prayers as it seemed to me. Now the wind is down again & we are only making very little progress. We are all getting […]
14th October1878 – 18th day
“Up at 7.30 & we are going along at abt 10 knots an hour in the right direction. All well & up except the guv’nor who is still in his bunk where he has been for 10 days. Did on average about 8 knots all day. Bed at 10. Nothing fresh today.” Extract from A.Whelen’s […]
13th October 1878 – 17th day
“Up at 8. As yet no wind or signs of any. From the first mate I hear today that we have done 2003 miles up till yesterday at 12, but unfortunately only 1100 in the right direction so you can imagine what weather we must have had. At present we are off the coast of […]
12th October 1878 – 16th day
“All up today, but unluckily we are now nearly stationary there being no wind. Soup & Bouilli (known on board as Bully) and Rice for Dinner. Bread Cheese & Pickles for Supper. We are now beginning at last to feel our sea legs and so enjoying our food which has not as yet been the […]
The Hesperides Sailing Ship – 11th October 1878 – 15th day at Sea
“Up at 8 after a good night & the sea is now fine & quiet but at 1pm more wind and rain came on. As it is likely to prove a soaker for the rest of the day I will endeavour to give you a few particulars concerning the ship… The Hesperides Sailing Ship – […]
10th October 1878 – 14th day
“Got up, after a very bad nights rest at 8. Did not get to sleep till 3.30am. Just above my head one of the boats is a little loose and keeps thumping like thunder about a foot above my head. We shall be very pleased when we get into the trade winds, as it is […]
9th October 1878 – 13th day
“Although the sea is still very high the ladies have all managed to crawl out for a short time having had a fair night; not quite so much rolling. This morning Arthur managed to fall into the scuppers & was obliged to change everything, as at that moment we had shipped a sea. In the […]
8th October 1878 – 12th day
“Last night was awful. We kept shipping large waves right over our house & the water made its way in somehow & all our provisions pails & co. were once more left to the freaks of the ocean, or, as the poet says, on the loose. Arthur had to turn out 3 times during the […]
7th October 1878 – 11th day
“Another very quiet night and this morning we look and feel very much like boiled owls and my bones are I believe all broken. Went onto the poop today and must say it was a very grand sight although at the time I felt too queer to appreciate it. The waves came on and on […]