Day 62. Flying fish and salt horse: a seafaring tale
29th September 1859:
Thursday. helping Sails to rip up an old topsail first rate job. the Boatswain mended a pair of drawers for me. squally. The boatswain and Richards bet a blue shirt each which could go up the Main mast and touch the truck first. I had to go to lee wheel from 8 to 10. the man could not get her up by himself. Squally all night. Going six knots with fore and mizen top gallant sails stowed.
Richard was helping out with the steering by taking the wheel on the leeward side of the ship. He also has his underpants fixed by the boatswain. Basic sewing would have been taught to sailors but Richard seems to have missed this part of his sea-going education.
The bet was on who could reach the wooden cap at the top of the mast first. There seems to have been no clear winner of this contest as the squabbling about it rumbles on for a number of days.