Setting sail

29th February 1924

Beetham, Mallory, Hazard, Irvine aboard the SS California

The California finally set sail on the evening of 29 February after several hours of delay. Sandy’s first letter was written at the end of their second day on the ship bound for Bombay. The Mount Everest Committee had arranged for two first-class berths on the boat, and although Mallory had suggested to Baldrey that he and Sandy might share a cabin, as they were both leaving from Liverpool, Sandy ended up sharing with Bentley Beetham and, by the spin of a coin, got the coveted bottom berth.