An object lesson in staying awake. I was motoring along the coast – going slowly against wind and tide, looking at a fisherman a hundred yards off and suddenly there was an enormous crash: the boat had hit an undersea obstacle and came to a shuddering halt. I flew forward badly bruising my chin on the side of the cockpit. If it had been a hand or an eye or someone had been on the forecastle it could have been serious. One moment placid calm; the next disaster.

We just do not know when the time will come.