The Salt Life...Behind the Helm...

The ride out was dark as it usually is when we go crabbing. Everyone is asleep but me. Just the sound of the diesel rumbling as I watch out for buoys and ropes in the water by the headlight of the crab boat. Everything else is quiet and peaceful as the sky takes on the colors of the sunrise behind me. Pink, purple, and orange appear in the sky. That's a good sign of the day. I keep checking on the chart plotter and all the gauges. For me it's as natural as driving a car.

I've been doing it so long and piloted so many different boats, it's hard to fathom how some people have such difficulty operating a vessel... but then again, they're not all doing it every day. I'm one of the very few female boat captains on the islands, of the fewer that pilot commercial fishing vessels if not one of the only ones, and one of the even fewer that hold a 100 ton master captain license. I'm rather proud of that. This boat isn't the biggest I've piloted but it's definitely one of the most challenging. It doesn't have a keel as most do, which allows me to get into shallower waters but limits the amount of winds we can work in, because the wheelhouse catches the wind and it gets blown easily across the water if you don't have good control over it. Today will be a good day for me, but I'm pretty sure the boys are going to complain about the heat since there's no wind at all. It's pretty amazing how different the water is down here compared to up north. Unless it's windy, there's no waves here until you get offshore and even then is less than a typical day up there. I remember going out on the boat from even when I was really little, and when we went fast there was always a lot of bounce from the chop of the waves. The water up north is a much different color and definitely not as clear as it is down here, but it's also a lot deeper and there isn't as much chance of running aground. Which explains slightly why it happens down here so frequently by less experienced boat operators. I'm a firm believer that everyone should be required to pass a basic safety course before being allowed to operate a vessel. Which would include things like anchoring, navigation, and basic safety. Most people don't realize how dangerous a fun day on the boat can be until something not good happens. When you're on the water as much as we are, it's not even an "if" something will happen, it's a "when" will it happen. Being as prepared as possible is just the best way to leave the dock. Plenty of extra water is always a good plan. "Honey.... Are we there yet?" Scott was hesitantly waking up, trying to savor those last minutes of sleep cuddled up with our 25 pound Brazilian Terrier, Patrón. He manages to look so comfortable on such a small space. The passenger seat in the wheelhouse is only about 4 feet long, yet he manages to make it look like the most comfortable sleeping spot. Even more amazing is that we occasionally take naps there together, not while I'm driving of course. He's the owner of the vessel. We've been together 6 years, and started a small seafood business together around the same time. Commercial fishing to catch the seafood is a big part of our business. He's been doing this his whole life, and not long after he brought me aboard, is when I started thinking we should take the next step and we created our little company. One of the things he loves about me is how much I love being on the boat as much as he does . He taught me how to do every position on the fishing boat. Clearing traps, winching traps, and about all the fish we catch. Lots of interesting information. Piloting the boat is the part I already had experience with, but it's definitely not the same as recreational driving. With all the years I have behind the helm, it took another 5 to get good at driving the fishing lines. There's just so much more to pay attention to and more situations you have to maneuver. You have to be aware of everything aboard the vessel, around the vessel, in front of, behind, under, and above at all times. All while paying attention to the water, tides, and even the skies miles in the distance. Scott looks at me with his beautiful blue eyes waiting for my answer. He is such a handsome man. I'm happy that he became part of my life when he did and not earlier. Things may have been different for both of us for the better if we got together when we first met, instead of so many years later. But everything happens for a reason and some things are for experience and learning. His sandy blonde hair reflects the color of the sunrise, and the his tanned skin glows in the early morning light. Patrón joins his gaze at me, and it's one of my favorite parts of the morning. "About 3 more miles," I reply. He smiled slightly and stretched his strong arms out in front of him as he sat himself up, as Patrón stretched and slid over towards the front window, his favorite place. Scott lit a cigarette and opened the bottle of water he had next to him, as he slid his feet into the white fishing boots he had on the floor in front of him. His magnificent solid figure comfortably leaned back against the wall of the wheelhouse as he blew smoke out the window. "Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day." His voice is deep and soft. "It's always a beautiful day in the Keys" I responded, as I set the throttle down to que our crewman that it was time to get ready.