Australia - Part 9

Indulgence Ship’s log day 5

Ships stores are beginning to run a little light although beer and fruit juice remain in very healthy supply.

An early morning dip was ordered to help de-louse the crew although the First Lieutenant took some 20 minutes to build up the courage to jump off the side. The Master and Commander swam round the island returning to the vessel in some distress crying out for the vinegar having been stung on the head by jellyfish.

Our first leg today was over to Tongue Bay with a fine wind running behind us. Having anchored up we made landfall and trekked to the highest point to take bearings. The Chief Buffon was bothered all the way up by a rather large hornet which duly stung him on the head before itself dying crushed between his hand and his shoulder.

Having gathered their bearings they headed down onto the beach and engaged in some reconnaissance. A group of native girls asked them to take their picture but seemed strangely unimpressed when First Lieutenant suggested they should substitute the traditional, “cheese” with, “lesbians.”

Some exploration of the shallows revealed a small shark swimming around their legs and a number of manta rays looking for a good meal (of their toes).

Having returned to the vessel we sailed north to Border Island (setting a new speed record of 10.3 knots) and having made a horse up of the first attempt to anchor (managing to drop ours on another ship’s) managed a much better result second time round. A fine luncheon of carbonara followed by banana surprise lifted spirits in the very challenging swell.

A final sail westwards through Hook Island passage and despite the best efforts of the Master and Commander to snap the mast off with 3 quick crash jibes in succession they safely made it to anchorage in Marcona Inlet and our overnight stay having completed 26 nautical miles for the day.

Second anchor horlicks of the day was dropping the blasted thing in the wrong place rather too close to another vessel. Much agonising was had about whether they could get away with it and the likelihood that they might swing into the other ship before the Chief Purser asked, not unfairly, “is there any reason we can’t just move” to which the only honest reply was given by the Chief Buffon, “none other than we would need to admit that we horsed it up.” Sensibly the horses skull and cross bones was raised along with the anchor and they moved to a safer spot.