What is it about 0300 (O-Three-Hundred, 3am)? Why is it not 0200 or 0400 when fecal matter and fans collide? You never ever see dolphins at 0300. Is that it? Ancient mariners know that dolphins keep dragons away, so perhaps there is an abundance of dragons around that cause mischief at that time?

Having a bad case of ‘Mal de Mer’ I could not sleep. The waves were churning the boat at exactly the right timing and angle to inflict maximum discomfort on this particular sailor. When you are tired and nauseated everything gets amplified, including the loud banging caused by the door latch on the head deciding to give up and the door started to slam continuously with each wave. It’s hard to hold onto a slamming door with a rolling floor while trying to reach for tools to inspect and fix the problem at 0230 in a darkened cabin while feeling nauseated. Pretty near impossible so I work Rudi for assistance. Kira was on watch at the helm. I hate waking people off watch as they really need their sleep but this was necessary or the door would smash itself to pieces. Rudi and I diagnosed that the spring had come loose or broken and as now I REALLY didn’t feel great and REALLY needed to go topside for fresh air URGENTLY, Rudi would jury rig a fix.

At around 0300 the dragons started to call me to the side of the boat, and as the boat heaved I had to too. Bye-bye dinner! In the dark, leaning over the side no idea where the horizon was, no way to stop it… and no PFD on! Kira was yelling at me like crazy to put my PFD on but I couldn’t as it was down below and all the while the dragons were calling. If I went over even with a PDF on there would be no chance of recovery. Everyone knows that. Chances are very slim. Out of nowhere Karin arrives with my PFD and wraps it around me. I force my elbows then arms through it then clip it on and finish my ‘business’.

So why am I telling you this gross story?

It is because I have the best damned crew in the world that I am sailing with and whether ‘thar be dragons’, or whether it is 0300 or not we all look out for each other and I am thankful to each and every one of them for being who they are and showing up when needed without prompting or requiring accolades.

Thank you Rudi, Kira, and Karin.
Best crew ever!