Sir Alec Rose, like the true sailor he is, has spoken with reverence of the power of the sea: 'No one knows the sea, which is a great leveller that soon cuts the big-headed sailor down to size. In the tremendous gales I have experienced round the world I was often frightened as I set my course, but I did feel at those times that there was another hand on the tiller, and it was a great comfort. One cannot go to sea in those conditions without being aware of a higher being watching over us, and sailors are invariably Godfearing types. I have said this before, but they who go down to the sea in ships, they see the works of the Lord, and it is really true.'.