Chapter 2: Atlantic Ocean – Encounters

Chapter 2. Atlantic Ocean Encounters
Atlantic Ocean, November 1844—March 1845.

Overview
Captain Joab intends to sail straight for the Horn, catching the Northeast Trade winds coming down from Africa. After passing the equator—known as “Crossing the Line”— the Quiddity will proceed down the east coast of South America and round Cape Horn by early January. The ship will make port in Valparaíso, making any necessary repairs and taking on new provisions. From there she’ll sail up the coast of Chile, then cut west below the Galápagos Islands and cruise the Offshore Grounds. Joab’s plans are public knowledge, and well-known among the crew. The fact the captain is forsaking a quick trip to the Azores for additional supplies is the subject of some grousing, especially by homesick Portagee Ricardo Reis, but most understand Joab’s eagerness to reach the Pacific Ocean as quickly as possible. (And after they take the Binding Oath in Encounter 3, they share that eagerness.) However, skipping the Cape Verde Islands means the Quiddity must be well-provisioned all the way to Chile, which makes the swine on deck quite a nuisance!

Navigation
Eventually this entire section will be available as one integrated PDF. But until then, it will be placed piecemeal on the site once encounter at a time. To make navigation easier, each encounter occupies a separate Web page, and each link opens a new tab. A small navigation bar at the end of each encounter lets you move backward, forward, or return to this “Chapter 2: Atlantic Ocean” Table of Contents.

Chapter 2, Atlantic Ocean: Background & History

Chapter 2, Atlantic Ocean: Encounters/TOC [You are here]

I. North of the Line
1. The First Day
2. Selecting Boat Crews
3. Joab’s Binding Oath
4. Training and Tacking
5. The Hen Frigate
6. The Fistfight
7. Boat Races
8. Thanksgiving
9. Star and Squall
10. Tropical Sailing
11. Crossing the Line

II. South of the Line
12. The Doldrums
13. The First Whale
14. Christmas
15. New Year’s Day
16. Approaching Cape Horn
17. Rounding the Horn

White Leviathan, Chapter 2—Atlantic Ocean
[Back to Chapter 2: Background | White Leviathan TOC | Forward to Encounter 1, The First Day]

Author: A. Buell Ruch
Last Modified: 8 August 2022
Email: quail (at) shipwrecklibrary (dot) com
White Leviathan PDF: [TBD]