"Should make up for some of the time we lost in that clock calm yesterday," Leonard agreed, smiling.

"I've been meaning to thank you for putting in a good word with your Captain for us - not sure how else we would've managed to find passage, it's so expensive these days. Let me know if there's anything I can do on deck, if you need another pair of hands? It's been a while since I've reefed a sail, but some things you don't forget easily."