Monday, February 4, 2013

Literature: From the Log Book

4 Feb. Fine breeze from NE; going 9 1/2 knots. Wild Flower astern. Hands employed stowing the cables and anchors. Latter part wind failing. Set all std sails, during the light winds and easterly.

5 Feb. Moderate breezes inclining to the SE. Hand employed putting on chafing gear and other necessary work; carpenter variously. Lat 21 degrees 35 N, long 116 degrees 2 E. Wild Flower out of sight astern. Latter part wind SE. In all std sails. Midnight fresh breeze; in royals and staysails.

8 Feb. Fresh breezes from NE. Carrying all sail. At 7.30 PM hove to and sounded on the Macclesfield Bank in 50 fathoms; coral rock. At 8 bore away and set all std sails.

9 Feb. Fresh breezes all these 24 hours; carrying all possible sail. Lat 13 degrees 46 N, long 111 degrees 20 E.

10 Feb. Strong breezes; wind NE. Sees 2 ships going S. Carpenter finishing new jibboom. People as most requisite. Lat obs 11 degrees 23 N, long 110 degrees 43 E.

~ from the log of Captain John Mann, the clipper ship Strathmore in the South China Sea, 1857


Header: Clipper ship Flying Cloud off the Isle of Wight by James E. Buttersworth c 1859 via Wikipedia
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2 comments:

  1. Timmy!February 4, 2013 at 3:00 PM

    Sounds like they were having good sailing weather anyway, Pauline. That painting is rather dark and ominous, though...

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  2. PaulineFebruary 4, 2013 at 3:14 PM

    Yeah, it does. It also kind of points to how monotonous days at sea can be.

    And that painting is ominous, but then it's off the Isle of Wight so, you know.

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