Sea of Dangers: Captain Cook and his RivalsJames Cook and his rivals vie to open up the Southern Hemisphere and claim sovereignty Two ships set out in search of a missing continent the St Jean Baptiste, a French merchant ship commanded by Jean de Surville, and the Endeavour, a small British naval vessel captained by James Cook. Distinguished historian Geoffrey Blainey tells the story of these rival ships and the men who sailed them. Just before Christmas 1769, the two captains were almost