James Craig - Sydney to Melbourne

Our perfect wind has finally arrived. 35 knots from the SW is
sending us round Gabo Island (the SE corner of mainland Australia).
We´ve covered 21 nautical miles in the last two hours, which is an
average of 10.5 knots (20 km/h). For a thousand tonne ship pushing
through the sea, that is fast! Now she´s topping 11.3 knots, the
fastest we have had her since her restoration.
Jon Simpson, General Manager of The Sydney Heritage Fleet, has joined
us as a crew member on this passage. Despite having a maritime
background, this is his first time in a sailing ship. I ask him, "How
does it feel to be General Manager of THIS?" He stands on the quarter
deck, wind in his hair, a very content look on his face. "Bleedin´
marvellous" he answers. "It´s not your every-day job, is it?!!"
Instead of four cylinders, we have four topsails driving us along.
One cannot help but wonder at the marvellous strength of our rigging,
to stand up against this gale. The sea is roaring and crashing around
us, but the deck is remarkably stable - as long as the helmsman
remains on course! 5 or 10 degrees off will bring waves crashing into
the side, sending sailors into the scuppers, and dinner sliding
across the tables below. --- James Parbery