 By October, he was en route to South Africa to join , the flagship of the Cape squadron, the first of several ships on which he served during his midshipman years.While stationed in St Kitts, West Indies, on , he had his first encounter with Clements Markham, then Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, who would loom large in Scott's later career.On this occasion, 1 March 1887, Markham observed Midshipman Scott's cutter winning that morning's race across the bay.