Chapter 2 - ab: Wednesday 29th February - Logged 91 miles

Last night we had an explosion in the galley.  Porridge jammed the safety-valve of the pressure cooker and when the lid was released it flew off, spattering hot porridge all over the bulkheads, deckhead, deck and various kitchen utensils.  The galley looked rather like the aftermath of a Laurel & Hardy custard-pie throwing bout.  It is strange that the pressure cooker affects the aneroid barometer.  When the valve is opened the barometer drops, usually a couple of points.  No doubt the instrument is too near the stove.

At 01.00h today we were 700 miles from Cape Town.

A heavy Southwesterly swell has been building up for the last day or two, which makes steering difficult, particularly with a following wind.  "Penelope", or any other boat of her size for that matter, is apt to lose a lot of the wind in the troughs, which makes her roll heavily.  As in the gale on the night of 23 February, the height from trough to crest was approximately the height of our mastheads.

Steering with the wind aft involves the serious possibilities of jibing and broaching to, on which the skipper has given us some timely lectures.  Jibing in the heavy sea at best would mean torn sails and gear, and a lot of water on deck and might, in the worst analysis, even cause dismasting.  "Broaching-to" can happen either after a jibe or, on the contrary, if the boat planes along the top of the seas too quickly, when the seas are travelling faster than the craft.  She may lose steerage way, come up into the wind suddenly, broadside on to the swell when the first big roller will land on her deck - 10 or 15 tons of water - with a bang.  If the hatchway to the cabin is open, as it usually is by day, then all this mass of water will fall below.  Such treatment has, in the past caused vessels to founder.

At lunch time, the wind having slackened, somewhat, Juan at the wheel, let the sails get aback - at the wheel, let the sails get aback - the beginning of a jibe.  The skipper simply roared at him and he sat there, seemingly petrified.  The man nearest the wheel grabbed it and swung the helm hard over.  Fortunately it was not too late to bring "Penelope" round, but had the wind been stronger anything might have happened.  The skipper is very worried about Juan's apparent recklessness and unconcern regarding important details of the sailing, especially on the night watches.  Juan seems to think the skipper is a fussy old man and that he himself knows best.  An awkward situation.

We were eating a delicious dish of curried tunny and rice, with onions, potatoes, raisins and a bottle of J. Sherwood& Co's "Green Label" sweet sliced mango chutney at the time.  The dish had been prepared at Oliver's request, but he was unfortunately unable to enjoy it due to "Penelope's" vicious roll.