In April 1789 the H.M.S. Bounty left Tahiti and whilst passing through the Endeavour Channel a number of the crew staged a mutiny. Captain Bligh and 18 loyal crewmembers were forced by the mutineers into one of the three small lifeboats and were cast adrift. The craft powered by a large sail and with four men rowing at a time covered 3 600 miles until they reached the safety of Timor.
