HMS Resolute Victory

1.07

What followed was an awkward ride to the ship; Jeremy was busy rowing, the Captain was excitedly explaining to Sarah what her duties would be for the next few days ahead of the special exhibition and Sarah couldn’t really hear him over the wind. She was also struggling not to get distracted looking at the rower, who’d quickly introduced himself before they set out. “Hi, I’m Jeremy.” He’d said. It was not the conversation starter Sarah was hoping for.

“Hahaha! You probably can’t hear a word I’m saying over the wind, eh!?” The captain shouted at Sarah leaning in, so that he was a bit closer to her ear.

“I made out a few bits. Maybe we can go over it again when we’re aboard?”

“What?” Asked the captain.

Sarah leaned in so that she was closer to the captain.

“I missed some of it, can we go over it when we’re aboard your ship?”

“It’s no good, I can’t hear you! We’ll try this again…” Whoooooosh “...ship.” Sarah just about managed to make out.

Jeremy was keeping his eyes down as he rowed, he looked tired like the rowing was taking some considerable effort. Sarah felt sorry for him working so hard on her account, her luggage although not very heavy combined with her 50 kilos body weight was surely making the return journey a difficult task for the young man.

I wonder how old he is? Sarah thought to herself. He looked maybe between 17 and 19, but could’ve been in his early 20s.

It’s going to be great having some female company on the ship, it’s a shame she must be underage, as she’s on schools work experience. Jeremy thought as he rowed and looked over his shoulder to see how far was left to go.

I’m going to jump straight in the shower when we get back, the clothes that aren’t drenched in sweat are drenched in seawater. I must smell pretty bad.

The rowboat came adjacent to the H.M.S. Resolute Victory and Sarah saw how big the ship was, it looked so small from the shore and now it was a titan. The metal hull looked as old as the oldest buildings in Ballorton, it was all rust and 5 inch bolts. The pale blue paint looked decades old, it was imposing and slightly scary.

Is this really seaworthy? Sarah worried.

Looking up at the criss-crossed rope that now connected the small rowing vessel and the ship proper Sarah saw that one section had been painted recently, it was the section with the name of the ship. The pale blue was a different tone, which wasn’t obvious from a distance, and the 3-foot high letters spelling out “H.M.S. RESOLUTE VICTORY” in black paint were not expertly written, there was some paint drips and smudges, presumably whoever painted that name on the ship had never done such a thing before or if they had definitely not professionally.

Why has the ship been renamed in such a hurry?