I am developing a story for a song and need to have a better handle on some of the language I might be using. I've listed below some detail about the ship on which my story teller is sailing. It was a real ship, and the background story is from history. I've read the edited log book of the ship's the executive officer from the ship's short but eventful voyage during the US Civil War.

Here're the details:

Launched at Glasgow, Scotland in August 1863
1160-ton screw steam cruiser
Displacement: 1160 tons
Length: 230 ft (70 m)
Beam: 32 ft (9.8 m)
Draft: 20 ft 6 in (6.2 m)
Propulsion and power: Sails and steam engine
Speed: 9 knots (17 km/h) under steam

The ship was the first screw steamer built on the principles of iron frames and wooden planking.

It was a fully rigged ship with yards for square sails, and had 21 working sails.

Here're My questions

I think I'll place my story teller at the back of the ship, watching the wake disappear into the horizon behind as he tells his tale. The weather's good, sea calm. I picture him perhaps leaning on the rail. Where would he say he is? What might he be leaning on? What sights or sounds might surround him?

I will dig through the log book again as I develop the story and may have a question or two more.

Thanks