It was so foggy that they couldn't pick out any lights on shore. They just had the sinister moaning of the foghorn to guide them. Tom had never been to sea in such conditions and he realised that they were in treacherous waters where the tides ran at fantastic rates. They might be swept onto some outlying rocks at any minute. He suddenly realised the enormity of the job he had undertaken. He was the captain of a strange boat in perilous unknown waters...he thought about his father. What would he do in these conditions? He hoped the others didn't realise the panic he was in...it had been his decision to take the boat and it was up to him to bring it safely back to harbour...they were all relying on him...if only he could keep his head and concentrate, they would be all right. He had always wanted to be in charge of his own yacht, now was his chance. He had to get the Pintail safely back to harbour.