The Captain scrubbed a boarding due to heavy seas. The bosun’s mate, the person who drives the boarding party over to the fishing vessel in the small boat, came to the bridge afterward, and the Captain explained the reasons why he’d scrubbed the launch. “Agreed,” said the bosun’s mate.
This bosun’s mate looks maybe twenty years […]
About seasickness, since almost every single non-Coastie person who has emailed me has asked if I’m seasick. Yes, once, the first full day of patrol. Later that same day I walked into the wardroom pantry and the seaman on duty was so white you could count his individual freckles. “Are you okay?” I said. […]
Two poems I found posted by the mid-watch on yellow sticky notes on a bridge window. I added the titles.
Night Watch
Cold wind blowin’
On the sea tonight
One screw turning’
One screw tight
Box steaming
In the lee tonight
Cold wind blowin’
On the sea
Davy Jones’ Plea
Please be careful overhead
When your leadsman casts the lead
My bedroom is the bottom of the sea
I […]