At single anchor in East Bay Aden. Anchor bearings. Ras Tarshin light S18W. Sira Island S81W. Sawayih N89W (Slave Island).
Sailing Directions for the Red Sea and Aden.
Wind ENE force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.92 inches rising to 29.98 at 0800 before falling to 29.90 at 1600 and finishing at 29.96 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 84F.
- Lit fires in steam cutter. 0600. Exercised hands manning and arming boats. Exercised boats under oar and sail. Lit fires in number one boiler. 0700. Unmanned boats. Cutter at quarterly checks. 0715. Hoisted Quarantine flag. Lost by accident boats anchor 30 lbs. Rope 25 fathoms of 1 ½ inch. 0900. Divisions and prayers. Carried out quarterly torpedo practice at anchor. Hands employed preparing ship for sea. Running torpedoes and as requisite. Spread fires in numbers 3 and 4 boilers. Noon. Wind East by North force 2. Draught 12 feet 10 inches forward. 15 feet 2 inches aft. 1300. Weighed and proceeded. Laying out mark buoys and running torpedoes. 1400. Hoisted boats. 1545. Proceeded as requisite for Aden harbour. 85 revolutions. Drew fires in steam cutter. 1725. 1rrived and made fast to number 3 buoy. HMS Racoon in harbour.
HMS Racoon, sometimes spelled HMS Raccoon, was an Archer-class torpedo cruiser of the Royal Navy. Racoon was laid down on 1 February 1886 and came into service on 1 March 1888. She served on the East Indies Station where, on 27 August 1896, she was involved in the bombardment of Sultan Khalid’s palace during the 40 minute Anglo–Zanzibar War.
In early May 1901 Racoon returned to the United Kingdom, and was paid off at Sheerness on 6 July 1901. She was decommissioned on 1 January 1905 and sold for scrap.
Hoisted Senior Officers Pendant. 1800. Slipped and proceeded to outer anchorage. 1840. Let go starboard anchor in 5 ¾ fathoms and veered to 3 shackles. Hauled down Senior Officers Pendant. 2100. Exercised port watch – Man and arm ship. Banked fires. Wind E by N force4. Coal expended 11 tons 7 cwt. Number on sick list 3.
