Australia - Part 11

Indulgence ship’s log day 7

Our last day at sea and our stores are now looking a little parlous (although supplies of beer and fruit juice remain good). A chance discovery of 36 bottles of mineral water has been mildly irritating considering the taint of the fresh water tanks they have been drinking (between the beer and the fruit juice) for the last week.

The First Lieutenant was in a shocking state this morning and could barely be turned out from his bunk much to the Master and Commander’s disgust. We do not anticipate a mention in despatches for him.

A quick run ashore for some critical supplies (skinny cappuccinos and croissant) and we were back at sea and running before the wind back to port. As the days have gone on we have become very accustomed to our good vessel’s little quirks and have been squeezing out more speed and after some careful retrimming of the fore and aft water tanks by Chief Buffon we were racing along at 11 knots and 4 fathoms.

With the First Lieutenant out of commission passed out on deck sleeping off the night before the voice of caution was lost from the crew and the rather brave decision to cut the corner and come between Pioneer Rocks and the shore nearly ended in tears as the depth gauge plummeted alarmingly. With the Chief Purser keeping a keen eye out on the depth and intoning it out like the dead pan voice of Davy Jones himself, “18 metres, 15 metres, 9 metres, 4 metres, 1.2 metres” all hands went into a shameful panic but the good vessel was just pulled through the narrow channel as the tide sunk alarmingly.

We can report that thankfully this brush with death set the First Lieutenant’s jam tart a racing and the rush of adrenaline quite cured his hangover.

A gentle sail up into the harbour and our journey comes to an end at last. Safely berthed the last of the supplies were quickly demolished in a final meal in the gun room with some rather interesting combinations. The cheese and plum sauce crackers being a particular novelty.

And so noble Indulgence we salute you, a fine vessel with bags of speed and character and the decency not to kill the entire crew despite their best efforts.

And now the dry land shenanigans begin…