Sir Winston Churchill at Europort with Dutch Pilot on bridge.
I took the wheel for the departure from Rotterdam, where we narrowly avoided a collision with a river barge. This photo was taken just after I handed over to another watch member. I still have the report from the cruise that was sent to my dad and it speaks of this nearly incident. The ship is the Princess Juliana Harwich-Hook of Holland Car Ferry. October 8th 1970. This was the first occasion on which I had steered a boat of any kind other than very small rowing boats. About five minutes after casting off, the pilot turned to me and barked "PORT". I put the wheel hard over and thought little more of it. A minute or so later, he said "WHEEL AMIDSHIPS", and I returned the wheel to the central position. Little did I know that my mates on the bow were watching in awe as we came within feet of the large river vessel. From the position of the helmsman just forward of the mizzen mast, virtually nothing is visible forward. That is why the pilot is standing on the deckhouse!
Sir Winston Churchill at Europort with Dutch Pilot on bridge.
I took the wheel for the departure from Rotterdam, where we narrowly avoided a collision with a river barge. This photo was taken just after I handed over to another watch member. I still have the report from the cruise that was sent to my dad and it speaks of this nearly incident. The ship is the Princess Juliana Harwich-Hook of Holland Car Ferry. October 8th 1970. This was the first occasion on which I had steered a boat of any kind other than very small rowing boats. About five minutes after casting off, the pilot turned to me and barked "PORT". I put the wheel hard over and thought little more of it. A minute or so later, he said "WHEEL AMIDSHIPS", and I returned the wheel to the central position. Little did I know that my mates on the bow were watching in awe as we came within feet of the large river vessel. From the position of the helmsman just forward of the mizzen mast, virtually nothing is visible forward. That is why the pilot is standing on the deckhouse!