A little follow-up.
I am really impressed with Robert and his crew. Nowhere in his log has he complained or groused, though they went through the roughest, wettest gales and swinging winds - to being becalmed and fog bound. One night, "stood out with the sweeps".
This is one of his entries:
"The evening continues very severe and incessant rain, not withstanding which we have been very cheerful and lively, and I must say that Robert (son aged 7) is no small addition to the party. Though confined to a narrow Mess-room we are not without our comforts, songs, punch, porter, and bag-pipes, and many jokes from old Jack and Gilbert, and uncommon eating of Mutton chops, and new potatoes.
I think we all look forward with pleasure however, to our old land, the Wind and Weather permitting, we hope to see it very soon, but nothing is certain for us Sailors, so we never frets about trifles."
It was ten days later, after severe gales and "for a more tremendous days wind and rain since before daylight, has never been felt at this season of the year" that they managed to get a fair wind to steer for Ireland.
It must have been very uncomfortable. They were cabin bound for several days at a time, so how they managed to keep themselves dry is a wonder. How much sanitation is open to speculation. In one of his entries he writes " our piper* nearly killed himself laughing at the idea of the place where Jack and Gilbert were perched, on their necessary business."
*Robert had engaged the services of another piper whilst sheltering in Islay. "He is a noisy fellow, with the pipes, but not his tongue, for he cannot speak", and he too joined the yacht for Malin. This now made seven men and a boy on board.
Photo captions:
1 and 2: A quiet evening off Iona.
