Chapter Two - l) Sunday 12th February (1956) - Logged 106 Miles

Got mainsail down at 00.30h as it was badly torn. Wind died about the same time and, as we are somewhat South of our course, the skipper decided, after a playful and innocent hint from me that he is "stingy" with the engine, to run due East, under power, until we get some favourable wind.

During the morning we ran into a herd of sperm whales.



about 25 in number, ranging from 15/25 tons, in the skipper's estimation. Evidently there had been no whales around them during their lifetime as, although our engine was going, we proceeded right through the middle of them, the skipper filming from the deck and masthead. Quite a convoy, with the bulls leading, heading North, probably Arctic-bound. We ran along with some of them only a few metres from our hull, rising and dipping, with their ugly snouts out of the water, blowing hard. When almost on top of the herd they would submerge, or "sound" which is the correct term, with their massive tails raised high in the air, like the rudder of a submarine. Soon after the whole gang would reappear and proceed on it's northerly course. We circled round and round for 45 minutes whilst the skipper ran off his film.

Launched Bottle No. 3 (blue stopper) in:-

Lat. 33◦ 10'S
Long. 28◦ 14'W

The messages in the bottles read as follows:

"Brass & CIA. LTDA.,
Rua Acre 47
Rio de Janeiro

Ketch "Penelope" - Bottle No.____
This bottle was thrown into the sea in: -
Lat. __________
Long._________

on ___________________, 1956.

from the 15 ton ketch owned by Frank McEwen, on a voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town. Will whoever finds it please communicate time and place to Mr. Oliver Brass at the above address. Thanks.

As some of the bottles may take 20 years or so to turn up I reckoned it was better to give Oliver's name, not mine.

Oliver much better today.
Had curried mushrooms and rice for supper.
Trolling for fish. No catch.

Chapter Two - K) Saturday 11th February (1956) - Logged 88 Miles

Yesterday's blow seems to have exhausted itself as happens frequently in these "variable" latitudes, and left us with an ugly swell.

Noon position:- Lat 31 - 40'S
Long. 28 - 00W

With 869 miles made good from Rea against 1250 Logged! We are not 14 days out and only half way to Tristan da Cunha! During the afternoon a stiff E breeze sprang up and we ran south, close-hauled, for several hours, logging 6 knots. Wonderful sailing.

We now have six albatrossess trailing us and we are becoming quite familiar with their individual characteristics. We want to keep them all the way to Cape Town and have tried all kinds of tit bits to attempt to please them but they have turned up their beaks to almost everything. After supper I tried them out with some J.Castaing & Fils (Coudures, Landes, France) pate de foie gras, which was a bit "off", and they just gobbled it up. Later the skipper threw them the best part of the contents of a new tin to make them further attached to us. Seems odd we have no bread but can feed albatrosses on the best French pate! The skipper filmed the birds. One of "our" albatrosses we call "Messerschmidt" on account of the ceculiar markings of his wings: -

Trolling for fish. No catch.

Chapter Two - j) Friday 10th February (1956) - Logged 67 Miles

Ate a packet of Carr's ginger nuts * on my morning watch. Overcast and squally.

Around noon a very strong wind came up from the east and we ran, under reduced canvas due South all the rest of the day. I thought Juan was going under when the bowsprit, on whose end he was perched, pulling down the Genoa jib dipped dangerously into the sea.

Very uncomfortable afternoon.

Oliver very sick.

Trolling for fish. No catch.

Chapter Two - i) Thursday 9th February (1956) - Logged 97 Miles

Yesterdays blow seems to have blown itself out, although there are some squalls knocking around still.

The light breeze dropped to a dead calm with a heavy cross swell, ruinous to the vessel's gear. Ran the engine all afternoon and picked up a night breeze to carry us South.

Yesterday's duster cost us 140 miles northerly set. Too bad.

Oliver still sick.

Trolling for fish. No catch.

Chapter Two - h) Wednesday 8th February (1956) - Logged 86 Miles

Overcast and squally. About midday we picked up a fresh breeze and went over on to the next stbd.'tack, running well with lee gunwales awash.

Oliver seems to have taken on a new lease of life and stood his afternoon watch, with Juan, singing songs in the rain.

Had a hell of a night watch (22.00h-01.00h) mostly in drenching rain. Glad of rubbers. I have discovered that the bridge of a ship - which I had hitherto considered one of the draughtiest of places on a stormy night - is like a Turkish bath compared with "Penelope's" open cock-pit. Brrrrrrrrh'.

Logged 1,ooo miles from Rio, at noon today.

Penelope's sail-plan must have been very perfectly conceived. Her balance is really remarkable. In strong winds, such as today, with jip and mizzen furled, running on mainsail and stay-sail only, her reduced rig gives her all the advantages of a cutter. With full sail, on the other hand, she has all the advantages of a ketch. She requires practically no steering, with the wind forward of the beam. No wonder the skipper is in love with her.

Trolling for fish. No catch.