Chapter 4: RY Penola

Extract

We left St Katharine's Dock in Penola on 10 September 1934. By the time of her return nearly three years later, she had covered 26,896 miles, 15,496 under sail alone, 3040 with engines, the remainder by mixture of the two.

In Penola amidships, there was a low cabin above deck occupied by the captain and his charts and instruments, and there he slept until we wintered in the south. Below deck there was a little mess room, a small cabin, the engine room, and the main hold. Aft there was a small wheel-house with closeable windows. But that small structure, I am sure wisely, we soon removed with saws to leave the wheel utterly open to the elements. There remained a head or straight drop, a tiny compartment over the stern for quiet, or not so quiet, defaecation. Urination took place on deck at any convenient spot or time, having regard to wind direction and the duties of the moment. Urine on deck was always said to be good for the planking and in some degree dissolved grease. Oddly it soon became obvious that individuals grew into a habit of urination at particular spots considered by each as especially suitable.