From Wicklow heading for Portsmouth
8.30 Breakfast by the ship
9.00 Skipper’s briefing:
The wind has turned northerly and we leave the harbour when the tide turns.
Pack the ship and be ready to cast off 12.00
Be prepared for a stretch of four days’ sailing, about 400 nautical miles to Portsmouth.
12.00, log 41, wind north-easterly, 4 metres/sec.
We cast off. We row out of the harbour with 25 oars
13.00 log 50, wind north-easterly, 3 metres/sec.
We are sailing with a light wind abaft the beam and a current of 1 knot, speed 3 knots
15.00, log 47, wind north-easterly, 1.5 metres/sec.
We are having difficulty in holding our course due to lack of speed through the water, so we row with four oars on portside until we are on course again.
16.00 log 52, wind north-easterly, 2 metres/sec.
Change of watch after a watch with swell and very little wind.
16.50, log 55, wind easterly, 2 metres/sec.
There is almost no wind and the current is taking us too close to land.
We take down the sail and row on every third oar – 18 oars in all.
We row 1/3 hour with an hour’s rest. Three men on each oar.
17.00, log 59, wind south-easterly, 1.5 metres/sec.
The wind turns more southerly. A heavy shower with thunder to starboard but it moves away to the west.
18.00, log 60, wind south-easterly, 1 metre/sec.
We ship oars and eat our evening meal.