The Leeward Islands Squadron by Chris Durbin

Author:Chris Durbin [Durbin, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-22T22:00:00+00:00

17: A Cruise

Monday, thirty-first of January 1757

Medina, at Sea, English Harbour west-northwest 10 leagues

Medina was battling against the trade wind, the fresh breeze on her bow filling her sails and her hull parting the blue swell and sending it surging aft in foaming white ruin. She had sailed that morning and was enjoying her break from the stifling authority of the commander-in-chief. English Harbour was a delightful spot; there were taverns ashore for the men, and the island was small enough that shore leave could be given without a severe risk of desertion. Of course, there was plenty of straggling – the casual lateness in returning from shore leave – bet it was not viewed with any particular severity. Unless the ship was under sailing orders, it wasn’t a flogging offence, and the men knew it. But for a first lieutenant, English Harbour was a waking nightmare. The ship could be seen in great detail from the admiral’s house behind King’s Yard and in even greater detail from his flagship. In consequence, every detail of her upper decks and rigging was on display for critical inspection from dawn to dusk. The yards had to be precisely crossed at all times; a yard acockbill was regarded with a quasi-religious horror, an abomination to be exorcised with a full public censure for the instigator. Washing was only to be dried on one day of the week, sails were to be in immaculate harbour stow. Provisions, water, wood; all were to be struck below almost before they had been swung aboard. And the boats! The Leeward Islands Squadron gave birth to the expression ‘a ship is known by her boats.’ Woe betide any midshipman who allowed any lack of concentration in his oarsmen that caused a missed stroke. There were always eyes ashore or on the flagship ready to spot such affronts to naval manners.

Holbrooke was therefore glad to be at sea. The liquor from the night before had dissipated, and he felt like a whole man again. He had not lost any of the crew unless you counted the two who had been landed to billets in Falmouth with various ailments. He had not even had to deal with the aftermath of fights with the soldiers from Monkshill Fort because after the first few nights there had been an uneasy truce, the sailors and soldiers agreeing to disagree on almost everything. Like himself, the crew had largely forgotten the excesses of the night before, and they had sailed at first light before there were too many watchers ashore and before the beginning of the sea breeze made it necessary to tow out of the harbour.

Medina had orders for what was in effect an independent cruise. They were to look into Basse Terre and Fort Louis at Guadeloupe, then on to the commercial port of St. Pierre and thence to Fort Royal at Martinique, the principal French naval base in the Caribbean. From there they were to head south to Grenada to check on the progress of repairs at the privateering base.

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