James Craig - Sydney to Melbourne

The wind and tide are against us, so we have to motor against it,
using just fore-and-aft sails to steady the roll. It´s a fine, clear
day, and Captain Edwards decides to close the coast for a better look
and to escape the adverse current. The distinctive elevations of
Coolangatta and Saddleback Mountains offer the navigators some good
bearings, and the pretty township of Kiama hoves in to view.
Assistant Watchleader David Kemp has discovered some tears in the
fore upper tops´l, so Bosun Steven Robinson decides to send it down
for immediate repair. No fewer than five tears are found, all
developed in the last day or so. A team with palms and needles set to
work, and by mid afternoon the sail is being sent back up (using the
capstan), and the sail is bent on, ready for use. We have an efficient team.
Meanwhile, down in the bowels of the engine room, 2nd Engineer Paddy
O´Sullivan (from Ireland) is trying to top up a tank with water. Most
of it is spilling over the sides, as the ship rolls heavily in the
swell. Not much of it is going into the tank. Chief Engineer Martyn
Low (from Scotland, as are most marine engineers) has a bright idea.
"Pretend you´re decanting whisky into a bottle, Paddy!" From then on
he doesn´t spill a drop. --- James Parbery