Claude, the second youngest, races on the Euterpe deck

Saturday Octr 11




Have had a dead calm nearly all day today. I understand the S.E trades are done with and we are now in a region of variables, wind may come from anywhere. Last night we had another concert (after two weeks rest) my wife sang ‘Welcome my bonny lad’ it was quite a success. For this evening there is a programme of dances posted to commence at 7.30. After tea yesterday, the childrens races came off & Claude beat all comers 3 times; and twice round the deck - ages 8 to 13. He runs like a hare. A man offered to back him against any man in the ship with 6 yds start. this same man’s son was walked right away from by Claude easily & he is 13 or 14 years old. I was quite surprised. Harold this afternoon has been right up to the top of the mainmast, he had to get there to pull himself up a rope above the top of the topmost rattlings (or rope ladders). In fact all the youngsters from Oscar upward can go up the ropes very well indeed & walk on a horizontal ladder hanging by their hands like good ones. Lizzie saw Harold & she was quite frightened until he was safe down again. I suppose he would be over 150 feet above the deck. Our appetites are now returning to us and as we won’t eat the sea biscuits we are generally on rather short commons for bread. I wish they would give us more flour, but they won’t. Lat 20.54 Long 34.47 Dist 96.