life on passage
Ondeck sailing
Ian Jinks
Tue 12 Jun 2007 22:03
Still sleepy, not rested, need to be alert
Over the lee board, hang on in the swell
Get dressed.
Up the companionway corridor,
Bumping off the sides
Up the steps to the wheelhouse, dimly lit.
Instruments green and red, i peer out,
Into the night.
Radar on, nothing except rain and sea,
Stare into the darkness, half hour at a time.
Fill in the log, pump out the bilge,
Monotony.
Silence.
Stern light, no, crescent moon rising,
Excitement dissipated,
Wind backing, sails eased.
Clock ticking, slowly, 3 hours nearly up,
Knock Knock "your on watch"
Ian Jinks on Pelagic signing out