I enjoyed chapter 8 but it was mostly fulfilling the set-up of chapter 7. I was a little surprised when it ended, but then I saw that we're onto 'Book 2' after this, and this chapter made more sense as a sort of denouement for Book 1 - it resolves the previous actions, establishes Shandy as being well and truly in the pirate's life now, and sets into place what will presumably be the dynamic of the next book, with Davies now set against Leo Friend and wanting his ship back.