The afterdeck of Endeavour. The fall of the port running backstay purchase is lead to a capstan (now termed a winch), these were of special, geared design at a time when all such items were individually made. The barrel was rotated by ‘rowing‘ the tubular bars, up to four men sitting on deck and bracing their feet against the white-printed wood cleats, seen close to the wheel by the covering board. Considerable power could be exerted by this means, though they were slower than the modern ‘coffee grinder‘ winch and the long levers got in the way on a deck often filled with quickly moving ropes and men. The eye of the after leg of the running backstay is engaged in at hook which is chained to a plate at the covering board. The shifting backstay, further aft, is similarly set up, with the purchase fall led to one of the two capstans on the after deck. The coil of light line made fast to the lower end of the runner and shifter are to carry them forward to the shrouds when that side is to leeward.

One end of the mainsheet leads forward from the deck block, and the powerful tackle which could be clapped on to the sheet fall with a mechanical stopper in strong winds, lies flaked out in the foreground. The mainsheet is taut to keep the triangular boom in the gallows when at anchor. The deck track for the mainsheet lower block slider traverses the deck abaft the open hatch.

The sweeping, well scrubbed deck, planked with white pine. polished brass wheel pedestal and other brasswork are typical of the racer in early morning, with the deck work done and all the varnish 'shammied' down with the dew, the mainsail coat off and all hands below at hreakfast before preparations begin for the day's sailing.