The wind was fresh when they started, but as the morning wore on it increased to a gale, and by noon there were high seas and heavy squalls.

As the little craft was running along the coast, and the full force of the south-westerly gale beat hard on her beam, her management taxed the nerve and seamanship of the crew.

Bass acknowledged that it was "very troublesome," and his "very" means much.

This extremely trying weather lasted, with a few brief intervals, for eight days.

As soon as possible Bass steered his boat under the lee of Cape Liptrap, not only for safety, but also to salt down for consumption during the remainder of the voyage a stock of birds taken on the islands off Westernport.
On the night of the 23rd the boat lay snugly under the shelter of the rocks, where Bass intended to remain until the weather moderated.