Holding on

The starboard (right-hand) side of the boat had been smashed, and water was pouring in. While Larry and Herb pumped desperately, the captain covered the gaping holes with canvas and hatch covers, to keep out the worst of the water.

Everything seemed to go wrong. The hand pumps got blocked with the floating rubbish, and one electric pump short-circuited. Then the captain found a spare electric pump under the chartroom floor. He connected it to an outlet pipe, and it worked.

Little Sue had a badly bruised head, swollen like a large egg, and a deep cut on her arm. But she had said nothing about them. When her father finally noticed and asked, she said she had not wanted to worry him while he was trying to save them all.

On 4 January, after 36 hours of non-stop pumping, the water was down to the last few centimetres. The captain worked out that two small islands lay ahead, and they set course for them. For the first time in two days, they ate a proper meal. But the relief did not last: the storm returned.

By 5 January, the situation was desperate again. That night, little Jon said to his parents: 'But Daddy, we are not afraid of dying if we can all be together — you and Mummy, Sue and I.' His courage gave his father new determination to fight on.