Unforgettable Experiences
I'm often asked if there are things that I miss from being at sea. Certainly one way of answering this question is by trying to describe some things that anyone shoreside would never experience. Probably the most privileged memory would be up on the fo'c'sle at dead of night in a totally becalmed sea, with so many stars above you, and all of them reflected in the sea below.
The only sound is the ship's bow gently breaking waves as this vast structure behind you heads seemingly effortlessly forward at around 20 knots. To be on a moving vehicle at that speed without the sound of any engine really makes it a magical experience. For all the money that the passengers paid, looking aft from the prow was one view they were denied.
Walking back to the rails nearer to the superstructure and looking down under the bow, would then reveal the next marvels. Sudden flashes of silvery light emerging, as flying-fish skim over the bow waves. If you were really lucky, ahead of them would be school of dolphins, always in a playful mood, showing-off their skills as they also maintained the ship's speed.
A moonlit night with dispersed cloud could make for some very eerie views, with only patches of sea visible. Occasionally, you would get the ethereal feeling of being somehow blessed, as the moon would act like a kind of distant spotlight. You'd have trouble in distinguishing a horizon in any direction, but the lasting effect was that, despite being on a big ship, it made you realise just how small you were. Confusing, because you'd expect quite the opposite.
With clear sea air, both sunrises and sunsets could also be unforgettable. In places with high humidity, you'd get effects where, with mists rising, it seemed that the sea was on a gentle simmer and it would be turned into every colour imaginable by the sun's rays. Memories of a distant geography lesson, remembering that this water could rise, then fall back to earth as rain at a place many thousands of miles away.
Here, I've only focussed on the pastoral aspects of being at sea. At the other end of the scale were the storms, some so scary they also leave a lasting impression.
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