A throwback from the archives, for a sneak peek of posts to come...
Living and working together, on a (usually) floating metal power station, day in and day out. No sick days, no "mental health" days. After a certain point, not dying and not messing up the meal are your main two concerns. After accepting the inevitability of the former, you double your focus on the meal prep, and simply laugh off the rest. Especially if you shut down and stop fishing EARLY because its too rough; and then proceed to make the ship "Impact Ready" before saying a prayer and sealing the outer hatches... come what may, you were in it. Fast-forward a few hours and that's where Nick and I are as he successfully balances and cooks/ guards, our dinner in its final moments.
Nicholas cooking, Paul getting out of the shower, and James laughing from behind the camera. Notice how Paul stays "standing" when he suddenly leans out the doorway, almost laying down as the boat rolls in the trough (drifts, broadside to the waves). THATS why Nick has his butt and both feet (in clean socks) on the counters... 3 points of contact and 2 free hands as he tries not to get splashed on or spill the crews steaming hot dinner.
You may think the story and laughs ended there. "The guys ate, went to sleep, and woke to a new day..." When in reality, we did eat and get to sleep after we finished a movie. All of us holding on and wedged in from start to finish. The part of the story that none of us had any idea was unfolding, amidst all the banging and crashing sounds we heard against the hull and house, one of our 2 side poles had been "Compromised". It wasn't until after we had already been fishing for a good 45 minutes before it was light enough to see the pole and notice its precarious situation.
Notice the line already tied through a welded gap above the broken port pole stabilizing bar. Obviously we're professionals, and snap from fishing brain into to project mode before documenting the situation.
We do skip some parts of the project. Its also why the next video is, an "active shot" made possible by Nicholas., after he had located the line necessary for the project and needed me to finish my part before he had another role to play.
Once we realized the situation we all snapped into problem solving and project mode without even thinking about it. Before I knew it I was climbing, and wondering how I had jumped to volunteer to go up without thinking about the fact that the damn thing (mast) didn't seem to want me there.
Have you've ever imagined you were an ant? Yes, an ant, trying to operate at the most basic levels, while at the very top of a metronome pendulum? Well, at the top of that mast, wile being flailed around by the ocean, that was me. Even still, I did take a few seconds to document the situation from above. But, only after tying the support line for the compromised leg of the "A"-frame. Priorities.
Just a normal Paul moment, (above) not phased by anything, just smiling and thinking about the solution for the project at hand.
Nothing new, just focused on the project at hand. Questions or worries like "what if's" and "just in case's" will only get in the way and slow the projects progress. Better to just hold tight, or wedge yourself in and just focus on getting it done.
It's not that its not still blowing a steady 35+ knots, and gusting upwards of 50+. Its not that we weren't up before the sun, after being half awake and alert all night. It didn't matter that we hadn't had a real meal yet or that none of us were "ready" for another urgent project. All that mattered was that we had a problem to solve so that we could get back to our actual job, fishing.
Now, no matter how good the solution, the process still demanded calm and collected professionalism. Whether that was climbing the mast, or hanging over the side of the ship to set the brace. Or, producing a substantial and quality welding while riding on the back of a drunken giraffe like Paul does in the clip below. Not only did this pole survive the rest of the season, but as usual, Paul makes it look easy and does it with a smile and a joke.
Being that none of us are trained or professional "camera men" we did our best to portray the conditions and situation. But nothing does the sea, or Paul's skill here, proper justice.
Though we each have different reasons for going out on the Ocean by choice. Adventure, money, freedom, the rush, the struggle, the crew, the indomitable drive of a dream for the future. We each know that when the cards are down, all we have are those of us on the (currently) floating ball of steel and diesel. Not every team is as dependable as the crew from that 2021 season, and you learn real fast who you can and who you shouldn't put your faith in real fast. As men of faith, this crew was all on the same page. Pray, have faith and then get it done.
Whether it's a failed generator, a problem with the fuel lines, an issue with the coolant system for the blast freezer or your boat has a failed power grounding that is putting a charge into the water around you. You only have your crew and the supplies that you have on hand. So even if you don't "have something", you make it. If you can't make it, then you make due without. The details of water, food, and 'clean' dry warmth are things you learn you don't actually care that much about. Mostly potable or salt free water becomes delicious. Food that has light mold setting in, or rice that the beetles have colonized, has "more protein" or "added flavoring". Warm clothing takes precedence, dry is nice, and clean only matters once you get a chance to drag your clothes behind the boat to "wash" them and then dry them in the sun.
We are an eclectic group of individuals who have made a choice to be ourselves, on our terms. The best part is when your crew is made up of individuals that get it. Peers that understand, its not that you couldn't do something else, something more "normal" or consistent. Its that you can't imagine doing anything else, anything less challenging or exciting. Through all the storms, injuries, losses and sacrifices. Each of us is deliberately, and gratefully still here.
Gratefully here,
James Gaunavinaka
Founder & Co-CEO
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