Fly by: Colonial Belle vs. The Emita II

 

Alien on a Tour Boat

 

 We did a hat overboard

Last year when we were taking my boat, the Huck Finn, to dry dock, it became a thing. There was way more crew than I had anticipated, but, to tell truth, I was glad they were along. 

The Crew:

Larry: He drives the Colonial Belle.

Jolene: Senior deckhand on the Colonial Belle.

John: Houseboat owner, a good egg all-around.

Dre: Me.

So what happened, halfway to Midlakes, John’s hat blew off and ended up in the water. I think Jolene was driving.

We had a hat overboard.

Jolene threw it into reverse. We came to a full stop. Larry was shouting directions to me, and we came about in shallow water. I left the helm for a brief moment to indicate where the fish net could be found. I went to slow ahead using the engines as steering.

Larry said “go to port!” “Go to starboard!”

We recovered the hat. 

It was impressive to me because Larry, Jolene and myself had trained for just such an occurrence. We turned out to be good at our jobs. 

Then we went ahead and brought the boat to Midlakes. It was the best end-of-season cruise, ever. 

 I’m your First Mate. Admit it, you love me.

And I know why. All captains love me. It’s because I know shit. Whether it’s a bowline knot or some minor aspect of pirate law. It’s crucial, and it comes in handy.

Everybody wants a good first mate, and you found one, and it feels good. Someone you can trust. Someone that will talk sense when everyone else goes crazy.

Knowing your place is important; and while command is attractively built, it doesn’t necessarily fit those who are more apt to figure things out.

The weight of command is best left to those who believe in themselves, while the smartest of us are constantly in doubt. That’s why second in command is so important. And why captains should listen more than they talk.

I’m not gonna get into the whole “rats head, ox neck” conversation. I’ll let you google that at will. Nor will I talk about shitty first mates.

Every captain in the world will debate me on this, and yet still, they will defer to a good first mate. Because it’s easy. And better off for crew and passengers.

It’s human nature.

Salute.

 Hey, they found the Endurance!

Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance, lost since 1915, is found off Antarctica