13/10/2009 - Lord Nelson

We had early breakfast because we were on watch from 8am till 12.30pm. When we set off from the port of Chatham we had to go through the lock. I went out on the DOTI boat with Ali the second mate to push the bow of the ship around to enter the lock. We then waited for the lock to finish closing one side and opening the other. We then headed out of Chatham docks down the Medway and out along the Thames estuary. During the time of travelling along the coast to Dover, I and a couple of other people climbed up to the top of the fore mast!! At 4 o’clock we braced the yards on both masts to make them at the right angle to set sails. When we came close to Dover we changed course to cross the shipping channel from Dover to Calais, the French side. Travelling across the shipping lane we went past a wind farm. As we got closer to Calais we started heading along the French coast from Cap Gris Nez. I was on watch with my watch team from 8pm till 12pm as we were travelling down the French coast. FS on watch we braced the yards and took in the flying jib and set the outer with only half a watch. It was tiring so late at night.