Today while looking for something else I happened to reread the Apologia at the beginning of THE OCEAN WAITS. Written forty years ago when I was half my present age—I pause to consider that startling fact—I believe it is still worth reading now.
An apologia is not an apology, but a defense of one’s beliefs and actions.
What I was looking for was an incident brought to mind by Steve Earley’s entry about Day 5 on his winter cruise through Low Country waters.
http://logofspartina.blogspot.com/2022/03/day-five-
Here is the specific section:
A big powerboat comes up from the stern. A man comes out of the wheelhouse and shouts "This the ICW south???" I tell him yes. He goes back into the wheelhouse, confers with his captain, comes back out and asks "This the Skidway River?" Yes, I tell him. Seems like a boat that size ought to have a GPS.
I wrote to Steve that perhaps some people ought not to be on the water.
His story resonated with me. I vaguely remembered something similar and late this afternoon found it in THE OPEN BOAT. It took place on the afternoon I sailed from Suva, Fiji, in CHIDIOCK TICHBORNE.
As I later learned, tired and desperate to get into harbor, they put the ketch on the reef that night, rather than stand off and wait for dawn. She was a total loss. They were rescued. Perhaps they too should not have been on the water. I wonder if they ever were again.
1 comment:
Other than just saying "Don't ask why" (which is also a valid response) to people have have to ask such stupid questions), your 'Apologia' is one of the greatest pieces of writing I have ever read about why some men go to sea in the manner they do.
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