(Recto) Trial of sailing off Cape de Galta (Cabo de Gata), 30 July 1852, 'Trafalgar' and 'Terrible' in the foreground; (Verso) the island of Zembra, near Cape Bon, Tunisia, 2 September 1852 RMG PZ0872-002

(Recto) Trial of sailing off Cape de Galta [Cabo de Gata], 30 July 1852, 'Trafalgar' and 'Terrible' in the foreground; (Verso) the island of Zembra, near Cape Bon, Tunisia, 2 September 1852
No. 24 of 36 (PAI0849 - PAI0884).
(Recto) Inscribed in pencil top left 'Trial of / Sailing - off Cape / de Galta / July 30th 1852'; and in ink along the bottom identifying the ships: 'Dauntless', 'Encounter', 'Fury' (paddler, not participating) 'Arrogant' 'Trafalgar' (acting as the turning point), 'Terrible' 'Highflyer' (in the lead), 'Britannia' (Rear-Admiral Dundas's Mediterranean fleet flagship, apparently acting as the far turning point), 'Phaeton', 'Bell[eroph]on'[?], 'Vengeance', 'Albion', 'Indefatigable'. All the ships ahead in the race, as far back as 'Terrible', are under limited sail and steam, and bearing up into the wind on the starboard tack as they round the 'Trafalgar' (Mends's ship). Those from 'Phaeton' on, none steam-assisted, are well behind under full sail including royals and studding sails as they run down on 'Trafalgar' before the wind. The apparent location is off Cabo de Gata near Almeria, on the south coast of Spain. For a drawing of a related trial a fortnight before, see PAI0870.
(Verso) Inscribed top left 'Island of Zembra / Sep[temb]er- 2d -52 from Cabin / North'. A freely executed blue-grey monochrome wash sketch, from the north, of the island of Zembra which rises to a height of 435 metres on the south side of the Sicilian Channel, off the Tunisian coast near Cape Bon. A sense of scale is given by the inclusion of a small outine of a topsail schooner nearly on the horizon line to the left. The smaller island further left on the horizon is probably Zembretta.

Island of Zembra, near Cape Bon, Tunisia