SHIP'S LOG

23 July 1964

1014mb. Moderate freshening westerly wind. Dull, long showers.

Laid at anchor all day. It began to look better about 4pm and had been finer during the day but was blowing again by 6pm with a small swell making the barge roll as it was right on her beam at 90° to the wind. It was the swell from the Fehmarn Belt and a good indication as to the conditions at sea. As our next leg is at least 35 miles, it needs to be right to go. The gale warning black ball by day and red light by night are still on the signal mast at Marienleuchte.

24 July

1017mb. Still fresh westerly to west-north-westerly wind. Gale warning still up. Lay all day.

Fined away after about 7pm. A beautiful night, the wind falling to a gentle breeze still from the west and a great full moon showing land and sea like a black and silver etching.

25 July

1018mb. Light south-westerly wind. Sunny.

Underway by 4.45am and were soon heading east with everything set and boomed out that could be set. A small German coaster made two circles round us to take photographs about 11am and left us with lots of waving and horn blowing. Picked up the Gedser Rev lightship 12.45pm. Caught a mackerel. Also fouled the log line with the other fishing line. Sorted it out in half hour and lost about two miles or less on the log.

‘JOHN CAUGHT A MACKEREL AND SET IT FLAPPING IN NICHOLAS’S BED’