Respect

There is one thing about water that fascinates me. It is the silent power with which it takes what it wants.

See the endless string of brigs and schooners lining the coasts. Being caught in a storm is awesome, you are happy to feel the wind while on shore. The singing wind in standing rig of marinas makes me shiver, reminding me of nights in my bunk with howling winds above.

The towering green waves of the Channel I will never forget. Pitching ship with sickening crashing in the hollow of the waves. A ship of considerable size, just plowing and slamming on waves like a hammer.

The black rollers with white atlantic beards, coming from behind, breaking on our poopdeck setting the winches awash and thundering forward. Being on deck in this beastly weather, lashing the cargo after counting the rolling. The third wave the highest, then a lull would be there and a chance to lash that truck, timing the the lashing on the roll of the ship. When the cargo is secure and the temperature of the reefers are taken, the pitching would resume when the original course was set.

endless.....