Through the Straits of Mesina and past Gibralter Monday

Monday 13th October 1975

04.00 went on watch and was fascinated by lightening which was about 20 miles off and was lighting the clouds up and they seemed to glow like light bulbs with occasional forks of lightning streaking about. I was allocated the job of reading the log every hour and reading the wet and dry thermometers at the end of each watch.

In the morning about 09.00 I helped the Bosun’s Mate inspect the lashings on the cars, several of which needed to be re-tied. I managed  to get some sleep in after dinner before my watch and by then the weather had deteriorated and the ship was rolling and pitching quite badly. By teatime I didn’t feel much like eating and was glad to get off watch at 20.00. However, a Western movie took my mind off it in the bar and I managed a good night’s sleep.

Tuesday 14th October 1975

04.00 and the sea had calmed down a lot and so had the ship. I assisted the 1st mate to take star sightings by noting the precise time on the chronometers. By dawn we were approaching Augusta. I broke out the house flag and the Italian flag. Later I broke out the letter G. (I request a pilot on board). I was sent down to get changed and wore my Blues on the bridge for the first time. The Captain came up onto the bridge and as the pilot boarded I took down the letter G and broke out the letter H. (I have a pilot on board). Hauling the flags up and down was a tricky business due to a strong wind but luckily I managed to keep hold of everything.

Once in the harbor we dropped anchor and, whilst waiting for the bunker barge, I helped the crew stopper the scuppers and out plastic bags over the vents ( to prevent oil blowing out and over the side if the tanks are overfilled. I put up the “NO SMOKING IS ALLOWED” and then helped the barge tie up alongside. Whilst waiting a couple of RN frigates sailed past and we saw a submarine making for the open sea! After dinner I went to bed and when I was woken at 15.30 found we were at sea and on our way to the Straits of Messina. It was dark by the time we got there and, with the Bosun’s Mate at the wheel and the Captain giving the orders, we sailed through no problem with ferries and other ships flying past left right and center. Spotting other ships was difficult due to all the shore lights. On Sicily we could see the fiery glow of an active volcano.

15th Wednesday

04.00 and the 1st Mate  showed me the procedure of checking compass error by an azimuth of the sun (moon or planets). Sighted the Spanish coast at dawn and sailed past all the hotels with magnificent views of the mountains beyond. It was a pity it was a bit too hazy for decent photographs. Twice we had to take avoiding action to miss small fishing vessels on our course. In the afternoon the AB (Dick) showed me how to use the wheel and then I spent about an hour steering. At about 21.30 we passed the Rock of Gibraltar which was impressive even in the dark.

Thursday 16th October 1975

04.00 I practiced azimuths on both Mars and the Moon. I also assisted the AB (Dick) to sugi the wheelhouse. It was amazing how much dirt came off what to me looked clean. Again I assisted the Mate take star sights by reading the chronometer. I also took a seawater temperature reading (not easy from on the bridge will a long line and a small bucket) and saw how to fill in the weather report sheet.

Later I managed to find time to do some dhobi and so will have some clean socks for next week.

Friday 17th October 1975

0400 spent most of the watch on look out. After a “dummy run” the mate let me fill in the weather report sheet. The hardest thing on it being interpreting the cloud formations and obtaining the right code letter. After breakfast the Bosun’s mate showed us how to splice and whip rope. He showed us the common whipping and needle and palm whipping. Also the end splice, back splice and short splice. Once we had mastered these he wiped out our grins by telling us how hard wire is to splice and that we would be doing that soon. He also showed me a few knots, the marlinspike hitch, the timber hitch and the carrick bend. In the evening was the officers v ratings darts match. Billy and I played for the ratings but the officers won back the shield.