Status Updates From Man of War (Adam Bolitho, #3)

Many of Athena's ship's company had never been at sea in a hurricane before. Bolitho held Athena running ahead of the storm's path with wind and sea pounding across the starboard quarter, sails trimmed to a minimum. It was a world of chaos, rearing seas crashing against the hull with such strength that it felt as if she had run ashore. Topmen fought their way aloft to obey orders yelled from the quarterdeck.

He strode to the rail and watched the sea gaining colour, light spilling from the horizon far astern, giving life to the topsails, shining on spray-dappled planks and gangways. On upturned faces and those working on the yards, a man in an apron carrying a bucket. Adam shaded his eyes and looked at the masthead pendant, brightly coloured as it caught the dawn and held it.