31st August 1768

Plymouth to Madeira
First and Middle parts, Moderate breezes and Clear; Latter, fresh Gales and Cloudy. At 6 p.m. loosed the 2nd Reef out of the Topsails, and at 8 a.m. took them in again; at Noon Tacked and stood to the North-West, having stood before to the Southward. Wind West to South-West; course South 36 degrees East; distance 82 miles; latitude 45 degrees 3 minutes North, longitude 8 degrees 43 minutes West; at noon, Lizard North-North-East, 105 leagues.

Joseph Banks’ Journal

Wind Freshend again this morn; observ'd about the Ship several of the Birds calld by the seamen Mother Careys chickens, Procellaria Pelagica Linn.* which were thought by them to be a sure presage of a storm, as indeed it provd, for before night it blew so hard as to bring us under our Courses, and make me very sea sick again.

(*Storm Petrel)

30th August 1768

Plymouth to Madeira

Fresh Gales all these 24 Hours. At 1/2 past 1 p.m. Spoke with His Majesty's Ship Guardaloupe; at 6 Close Reeft the Topsails, and got down the Top Gallant Yards. Wind Westerly; course South 27 degrees West; distance 33 miles; latitude 46 degrees 9 minutes North, longitude 9 degrees 52 minutes West; at noon, Lizard North 36 degrees East, 96 leagues.

Joseph Banks’ Journal

Wind still Foul, ship in violent motion, but towards evening much more quiet: Now for the first time my Sea sickness left me, and I was sufficiently well to write.

29th August 1768

Plymouth to Madeira

Light Airs and Hazey the Most part of these 24 hours with some Rain. Wind North-Westerly; course South 21 degrees West; distance 41 miles; latitude 46 degrees 38 minutes North, longitude 9 degrees 29 minutes West; at noon, Lizard North 37 degrees 45 minutes East, 86 leagues.

Joseph Banks’ Journal

Wind foul: Morning employd in finishing the Drawings of the animals taken yesterday till the ship got so much motion that Mr Parkinson could not set to his Pencil; in the Evening wind still Fresher so much as to make the night very uncomfortable.

28th August 1768

Plymouth to Madeira

Former part fresh Gales and Hazey with rain; remainder a Moderate breeze and Cloudy. Wind Easterly; course South 48 degrees West; distance 130 miles; latitude 47 degrees 16 minutes North, longitude 9 degrees 7 minutes West; at noon Lizard North 40 degrees 5 minutes East; 69 leagues.

Joseph Banks’ Journal

Little wind today; in some sea water, which was taken on board to season a cask, observed a very minute sea Insect, which Dr Solander describd by the name of Podura marina. In the Evening very calm; with the small casting net took several specimens of Medusa Pelagica, whose different motions in swimming amus'd us very much: among the appendages to this animal we found also a new species of oniscus. We took also another animal, quite different from any we had Ever seen; it was of an angular figure, about 3 inches long and one thick, with a hollow passing quite through it. On one end was a Brown spot, which might be the stomach of the animal.

Four of these, the whole number that we took, adherd together when taken by their sides; so that at first we imagind them to be one animal, but upon being put into a glass of water they very soon separated and swam briskly about the water.

27th August 1768

Plymouth to Madeira

First part Light Airs and Clear weather, remainder fresh breezes and Cloudy. Berthed the Ship's Company, Mustered the Chests and Stove all that were unnecessary. Wind North-West, North-East, South-East; course South-West; distance 77 miles; latitude 48 degrees 42 minutes North, longitude 6 degrees 49 minutes West; at noon, Lizard North 29 degrees East, 80 miles.

Joseph Banks’ Journal

Wind fair and a fine Breeze; found the ship to be but a heavy sailer, indeed we could not expect her to be any other from her built, so are obligd to set down with this inconvenience, as a necessary consequence of her form; which is much more calculated for stowage, than for sailing.

26th August 1768

[Dodman Point]

Sailed from Plymouth

First part fresh Breezes and Cloudy, remainder little wind and Clear. At 2 p.m. got under Sail and put to Sea, having on board 94 Persons, including Officers, Seamen, Gentlemen, and their Servants; near 18 Months' Provisions, 10 Carriage Guns, 12 Swivels, with good Store of Ammunition and Stores of all kinds.

At 8 the Dodman Point West-North-West, distant 4 or 5 Leagues; at 6 a.m. the Lizard bore West-North-West 1/2 West, 5 or 6 Leagues distant. At Noon Sounded and had 50 fathoms, Grey sand with small Stones and broken Shells. Wind North by West, North-West, West by South; course South 21 degrees East; distance 23 miles; latitude 49 degrees 30 minutes North, longitude 5 degrees 52 minutes West; at noon, Lizard North 21 degrees West distant 23 miles.

Joseph Bank's Journal

Wind still fair, but very light breezes; saw this Even a shoal of those fish which are particularly calld Porpoises by the seamen, probably the Delphinus Phocaena of Linnaeus, as their noses are very blunt.

25th August 1768

Depart Plymouth Sound

Moderate and Cloudy weather; a.m. received on Board a supply of Beer and Water, and returned all our Empty Casks. Loosed the Topsails as a Signal for Sailing. Wind West, North by West, North-West by West.

Joseph Banks’ Journal

After having waited in this place ten days, the ship, and everything belonging to me, being all that time in perfect readyness to sail at a moments warning, we at last got a fair wind, and this day at 3 o'clock in the even weigd anchor, and set sail, all in excellent health and spirits perfectly prepard (in Mind at least) to undergo with chearfullness any fatigues or dangers that may occur in our intended Voyage.

Sydney Parkinson’s Journal

Having taken in some more stores and guns, and made a few necessary alterations in the ship on the 25th of August we sailed from Plymouth, with the wind at N. N. W. but it did not continue long in that quarter, but changed to S. W.

24th August 1768

Plymouth Sound

Fresh Gales and Hazey weather; a.m. hove up the Small Bower Anchor and got Topmasts and Yards. Wind West by South.

23rd August 1768

Plymouth Sound

Ditto weather.  Struck Yards and Topmasts; Anchored between the Island and the Main His Majesty's Ship Gibraltar. Wind West by South.

22nd August 1768

Plymouth Sound
Fresh Gales, with heavy squalls of Wind and Rain all this 24 hours. Wind South-West.

21st August 1768

Plymouth Sound

Fresh Gales and Ditto Weather. The Shipwrights having finished their Work, intended to have sailed, instead of which was obliged to let go another Anchor. Wind South-West, West-South-West.

20th August 1768

Plymouth Sound

First part little wind with rain; remainder fresh Gales and thick rainy weather. Employed making ready for Sea. Wind West-South-West.

[Image: J.M.W. Turner]
Turner toured Devon and Cornwall in 1811, returning to Devon in 1813 and 1814. On these occasions he painted several views of Plymouth including images of the Citadel in the early years of the nineteenth century. This painting shows the Citadel being pounded by a S.W. gale.

19th August 1768

Plymouth Sound

Former part little wind with rain; remainder fair weather; a.m. Read to the Ship's Company the Articles of War and the Act of Parliament, they likewise were paid two Months' Wages in advance, also told them that they were to Expect no additional pay for the performance of our intended Voyage; they were well satisfied, and Expressed great Cheerfulness and readiness to prosecute the Voyage. Rceived on board another Supply of Provisions, Rum, etc. Wind North-West to South-West.

18th August 1768

Plymouth Sound

Little wind and Cloudy. Struck down 4 guns into the Hold. Received on board 4 More, with 12 Barrels of Powder and several other Stores. Shipwrights and Joiners Employed on board. Wind Easterly.

17th August 1768

Plymouth Sound

Little wind and Hazey weather. Sent some Cordage to the Yard in order to be Exchanged for Smaller. Several Shipwrights and Joiners from the Yard Employed on board refitting the Gentlemen's Cabins, and making a Platform over the Tiller, etc. Wind South-East to East by South.

16th August 1768

Plymouth Sound

First part moderate and Hazey; Middle hard Squalls with rain; the Latter moderate and fair.  Received on board a supply of Bread, Beer, and Water.  A Sergeant, Corporal, Drummer, and 9 Private Marines as part of the Complement.  Wind South-South-East to North-East.

15th August 1768

Plymouth Sound

At 4 a.m. weighed and worked into proper anchoring ground, and anchored in 6 fathoms, the Mewstone South-East, Mount Batten North-North-East 1/2 East, and Drake's Island North by West. Dispatched an Express to London for Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander to join the Ship, their Servants and Baggage being already on board. Wind North-Easterly.

First and latter parts Moderate breezes and fair; Middle squally, with heavy showers of rain. I this day received an order to Augment the Ship's Company to 85 Men, which before was but 70. Received on board fresh Beef for the Ship's Company. Wind South-West to South-East.

Note:  The photo is of modern view of Plymouth Sound showing Drake's Island [centre right] and the Breakwater in the foreground.  The Breakwater -- one mile long -- was not built until well after Cook's time.  For its history click here: http://www.plymouthdata.info/Breakwater.htm 

14th August 1768

Plymouth Sound

Fine breezes and Clear weather. At 1/2 past 8 p.m. Anchored in the Entrance of Plymouth Sound in 9 fathoms water.

Sydney Parkinson’s Journal

We anchored on the 14th, and took on board some more seamen, with a few marines. Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, Mr. Green, with their attendants, also joined us at this port; and our number was then increased to ninety six.

13th August 1768

Gravesend to Plymouth

Ditto weather. At Noon the Start Point West 7 or 8 miles. Latitude Observed 50 degrees 12 minutes North, which must be the Latitude of the Start, as it bore West. Wind Variable.

[Image: Start Point]

12th August 1768

Gravesend to Plymouth

Light Airs and Calms all these 24 Hours. At Noon the Bill of Portland bore North-West 1/2 West, distant 3 Leagues. Latitude Observed 50 degrees 24 minutes North. Wind Easterly.

[Image: Portland Bill with the late eighteenth century lighthouse]

11th August 1768

Gravesend to Plymouth

Light Airs and Clear weather. At 8 p.m. Dunnose North by West 5 Leagues, and at 4 a.m. it bore North-North-East 1/2 East, distant 5 Leagues. Wind Variable.

10th August 1768

Gravesend to Plymouth

Variable: light Airs and Clear weather. At 8 p.m.  Beachy Head North-East by East, distant 4 Leagues, and at 8 a.m. it bore North-East by North, 9 Leagues.   Found the Variation of the Compass to be 23 degrees West; at Noon the Isle of Wight North-West by North. Wind West by North, North-East by East.

9th August 1768

Gravesend to Plymouth

At 11 a.m. Weighed and made Sail down Channel; at Noon, Beachy Head, North by East 1/2 East, distant 6 Leagues, Latitude observed 50 degrees 30 minutes North. Wind North-West to North.

8th August 1768

Gravesend to Plymouth

Fresh Breezes and Cloudy weather the most part of these 24 hours. At 10 a.m. weighed and came to sail; at Noon the South Foreland bore North-East 1/2 North, distant 6 or 7 Miles. Wind West by North, North-West. Gentle breezes and Cloudy weather. At 7 p.m. the Tide being against us, Anchored in 13 fathoms of Water; Dungeness South-West by West.

7th August 1768

Gravesend to Plymouth
I joined the Ship, discharged the Pilot, and the next day saild for Plymouth.

3rd August 1768

Gravesend to Plymouth

Anchored in the Downs in 9 fathoms of water, Deal Castle North-West by West.