My parents and the older seamen have taught me this: “You need to respect the sea, not be afraid of her”. I instantly grasped what that meant. My family was one with a maritime tradition, carried on from my grandfather to my father and from him to me and my brothers. The sea was our only talking point at my home, from what I can remember. Before they embarked, all the others were somewhat sad, but I felt joy at finding a job. The women, the mothers and the captain’s wives, were accustomed to our absence. This is the case in all the places that breed seamen. We were gone and they were left behind, governing the other ship, that of the land.
This story is from KEOS Issue three