“Stephen said that as far as his understanding went, the real danger lay in a following wave striking the back of the ship such a buffet as to twirl it sideways to the wind, when it would lie down, receive the next wave broadside-on, and so be overwhelmed”

In his series of epic tales, famous novelist Patrick O'Brian depicts the lives of; swashbuckling captain Jack Aubrey and his shrewd but aloof friend, Stephen Maturin, as they sail the corners of the earth on behalf of the Royal Navy.

This piece depicts the famous H.M.S. Surprise as it attempts a dangerous stormy passing of the Cape of Good Hope.