Chapter 11 and 12 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 11—Christmas and the Rat

Joshua's speed is reduced by a moderate southeast gale, because the boat heaves-to. Then Bernard sees little seals around the boat. Bernard has fantasies of meeting a New Zealander yacht at Christmas time, and exchanging champagne with them, as they send out a dinghy boat to meet him. More seal families come around the boat, with baby seals coming close to the boat to play.

On Christmas, Bernard unwraps a smoked ham and eats fairly well for lunch. He makes a tomato sauce and cooks it with pieces of ham on a hot plate. Shortly after, Bernard sees the mountains of South New Zealand about 50 miles away. The air is calm and Bernard enjoys his Christmas dinner and opens his bottle of champagne to celebrate passing Australia and New Zealand. He thinks of...