If you are late on watch, it is the hot coals for you, if keel hauling was still acceptable Richard would certainly be dishing that out, for anyone who was late. So guess what happened today. Richard was not only late by 2 mins, he was incorrectly dressed, a pair of speedo’s and nothing else.

We did mention this, and he at least put on his lifejacket.

As soon as he was on watch he settled down in the corner of the cockpit to read his book. I went below to cook up something for lunch. Lunch being served to the crew, I then made it out of the galley with my lunch. Sitting down to tuck into my lunch, i casually asked if anyone had seen the large cargo ship on a collision course for us on our starboard bow.

Richard put down his book, and his lunch, and investigated the ship. Which turned out to be predicted to pass 1/3 of a mile ahead.  Luckily the crew on the cargo vessel weren’t having lunch or reading a book, and altered course to clear our bow by 1 mile.

This is now the second large vessel Richard has missed, but we hardly mention it.......