Deckhand diary July 14th
 
The anchorage we were directed to yesterday was among the first islands off Macao and we could feel the historic “vibes" when arriving at the mouth of Pearl River, even if we are a bit outside it. So after having furled the sails and cleaned the deck we had a small ceremony, celebrating the fact that we had arrived safe and sound and were now at anchor. It has been a wonderful voyage in steady trade winds.

Last night most of us, except the anchor watch, were able to sleep all night on deck for the first time since Jakarta. Some of us woke up in the middle of the night anyway. Habits!
Today all watches have been working full-time, cleaning and preparing for the dismounting of the upper part of the rigging so as to be able to pass the bridges up river. An exciting project, led by Björn and Martin. We have also started to paint and polish, to make our ship look fine when we arrive.

Had to make a pause here, it started to get more and more windy, with the gusts reaching 18 m/s. Rumours have it that we are on the outskirts of a typhoon, so we have braced the yards hard, to make them catch less wind. We are rather unprotected here, so let us hope that we do not end up in the centre of it. And just now I heard that the name of the typhoon is “Bilis" and that the centre is further to the south and that they have started to evacuate people.

Guess I will have to hang on to my sheet, when in the cot. Sleeping below in the quarters is out of the question. The air down there gives you a premonition of what after-life would be in a corresponding place downstairs.

Bosse,
deckhand

Officer diary July 14th
 
A second hand sewing machine for light work on boat covers, tarpaulins etc. was purchased at Jakarta (Batavia). Wired up and works well, although some slight trouble with the tension spring. During the passage up, relocated new bolts of canvas and various other stuff including machine, to space at aft end of gun deck port side. This relieves considerably room in aft peak. Repaired aloft seam in fore topsail by way of port reef tackle piece. Work continues on a new spritsail and is now completely sewn up in two halves by first day at Pearl River anchorage. Other sails also sent down bone dry and stowed away in aft peak. Both topgallant sails, sprit topsail, spritsail, main top staysail, spanker and jib. Also mizzen staysail. Some minor work necessary on jib.

Philip Rose-Taylor,
Sailmaker