Today we had our 2nd day at sea and whilst the sun was shining in all its glory, the North Atlantic Ocean gave us an exhibition in disturbed wave patterns. The storm, that we more or less bypassed during our crossing, spread out its wave field more and more while going across the North Atlantic. Yet another depression of Cape Hatteras ensured that this wave field spread like an oil film all over the mid and southern part of the North Atlantic. That meant that the field became more and more diffused while time was going by, but it lingered on and thus had the chance to mix with newly generated waves. Waves created by another wind pattern. The area we are sailing in today is partly under the influence of the Trade winds, winds blowing from the East, which create waves coming from the East. These were mixing with the old swells from this North Atlantic storm and the result was a disturbed North Atlantic Ocean.

So during part of the day, the Prinsendam was as steady as a rock, part of the day we moved gently and on a few occasions the ship even pitched. All depending on the wave height, the wave length and the wave direction and how these all interacted with each other from time to time. Especially towards the evening when we were the closest to this spread out wave field. Tomorrow morning we will enter the Caribbean Sea and as soon as we are inside, the islands will shield us from any North Atlantic swell. We might still move then but only because the Trade winds are blowing a bit more forceful than normal. However that is supposed to get less by tomorrow evening. The current predictions are for a calm day in St. Lucia.

With the challenges of Ft. Lauderdale behind us and yesterday to clear up all the loose ends, today was the day that we could start our regular shipboard routine again. That meant inspections and meetings. Part of the legal responsibilities of a captain is to ensure that his ship is clean, well maintained and healthy. To comply with this I carry out a number of inspections during each voyage and each week. Some are stipulated by law, some by the company, although both serve the same purpose. Once a week we have crew cabin inspection, to see if the cabins are in good order (things that are broken are noted and job orders generated) and clean. As our community consists of several nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, you sometimes come across startling surprises.

Occasionally we see a complete disaster area, where the floor is used as storage instead of the wardrobes, laundry bin and drawers. Sometimes the cabins are so clean and stark that we have to check the bed linen to see if anybody is living in the cabin. Also cabins tend to become more and more cluttered the longer the crew is living in it. Everybody collects clutter along the way but also souvenirs and gifts for going home. I once counted 125 fluffy toys in one cabin alone. There must have been a large number of young nephews and nieces waiting at home for this particular crewmember.

Disaster cabins are described in shipboard language as “bomb explosions” and we find those most of the time among the young Caucasian crewmembers. Fresh from home they have not made the transition yet, from Mother clearing up behind them, to having to do it themselves. For those the captain turns into a stern fatherly figure who re-inspects, counsels and if needed hand outs official warnings. Most of the time rapid improvement is noticed. Only once, during my career at sea, I have seen a person sent off the ship for cabin offenses. That was a real natural talent. Nothing that we tried would improve the situation and when the person was finally dismissed from the ship, she managed to leave half her belongings behind in the cabin, so we had to clear up behind her.

However most of the time, the inspection sheet only lists burnt out bulbs, torn shower curtains and “foreign items”. The latter is work equipment that crew store in the cabin to make their life easier for going to work. Understandable but not allowed as the cabin is not a work space. We just collect that and have it returned to the appropriate supervisor.

Tomorrow will be our last day at sea, before we come to our first port of Castries in St Lucia. Most of that day we will be sailing through in the Caribbean Sea. Sunny skies and a fresh breeze are expected throughout the day.