I really enjoyed doing that first panel. I managed to find a cardboard model of the ship I needed (a 15th century caravel), which was much easier to put together than those plastic models you have to glue and paint and all. Just follow the IKEA-type instructions :)

Having that model made drawing that ship so much easier! I actually ended up liking the drawing, imagine that :D I always imagined setting fire to it one day, but now part of me was actually a little sorry to leave the ship behind (on page 23).

And then getting to use those sunset colours, it's so different from the colouring I usually get to do. That alone made it fun.

PS.: I know you're not supposed to laugh at your own jokes, but those bugs crack me up, they really do.