POSSESSING THE HELM

By Jim Crosby

We were motoring up the Chesapeake Bay. I had the helm of the 42-foot, sport fisherman. The water was lumpy and required a great effort at the wheel.

We were tired and anxious to make dock. The skipper, from the seat behind me, broke the silence and bellowed, "Crosby, look at your wake. It's as crooked as a snakes back!" It frustrated me so much, I jumped up, and the helm popped off into my hand. I turned, handed it to him and said, "Here, you take it for a while. I'm going below."

The excitement that followed included throttling down the engines and breaking out the toolbox. Once re-installed, the skipper took the helm and I manned a bunk down below, well out of shouting range.

Spending time together on a boat requires a great sensitivity toward each other because fear, fatigue and emotional stress can develop quickly in the confined spaces and generate friction in interpersonal relationships. Severe seasickness, stress, fatigue and many other ailments can develop before you know it to become a hazard to the vessel and its passengers - not to mention the fun of boating.

For a copy of the complete article as published in Virginia Wildlife Magazine (550 words), contact Jim Crosby at jimecrosby@aol.com.