Steering Mistake.

[Phil Hughes]

On my first trip to sea in 1958 as Deck Boy I was on the Warwick Castle going down the east African coast doing my steering hours for my ticket and after 6 hours I guess I was over confident and the Q.M. was obviously happy with me so he was strolling around the bridge whilst talking to me. When I looked back at the compass card I was off course and it looked way off course so I panicked and instead of easing it back gently I did it too fast and the ship healed over to starboard. The Captain came running into the wheelhouse shouting about being thrown from his chair and asking what the **** is happening. He then went onto the wing and looked astern shouting, "My passengers are swimming on the timber decks while they should be in the pool". I think he exagerated a bit. I got an extra 2 hours on my time and the Q.M. got a reprimand.
Phil Hughes. R698842.

[John Arton]

As cadet I had to do my steering ticket on my first trip on a 66000 ton tanker. I was also tasked with doing the steering going into and out of port. We were going up to Tranmere, fully laden and the pilot was giving me compass course to steer and once I had steaded her up on the new heading and reported to the pilot steady on xxx I would pick a prominent object that was aligned right ahead of the foremast and keep the head steady on it. The pilot was getting very shifty about this as with the tide affecting us the actual compass heading was different to the heading I was steering on. The captain politely pointed out to the pilot that if he, the pilot, had been paying attention he would have realised that the tidal current was setting off track.
Rgds
J.A

[Graham Shaw]

As a cadet I used to love steering,especially on long river or estuary pilotages ,where it really felt that one was really doing something important and more relative to one's future career than chipping decks,or soogying paintwork or varnishing rails.Even as a junior mate I relished taking the wheel under pilotage when the QM was overdue his relief or had to go below to call the watch.It was also a good way to learn how ships handled in confined waters or responded to the helm when avoiding other vessels or
obstructions. I don't suppose it is as enjoyable or as satisfying today. Oops !Hard- a -cardboard!

[Des Jenkins]

Some of the most enjoyable times steering which I liked was on the last British ship I was on a small coaster the leadsman, up and down the East coast in the summer of 57.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Been on the bridge of a modern day cruise ship.
So different, no one to steer now, just a joy stick and a computer screen, no magic there now.