Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on the stays, painted canvas mast boots in matte white and other salty details too numerous
to mention. I was grey with envy.
We sat about on the ample coach roof, drinking cold Danish beers and helping ourselves to
hunks of fresh baked bread and salty butter and the tender garlicky lobster and fish that the
girl had prepared. It was a delightful evening with wonderful company and such a grand
setting.
Suddenly, one of the crew grabbed a paraffin lamp and, swinging it wildly above his head,
smashed it down on the deck, sending shards of glass and paraffin all over the boat! The
girl screamed, and quickly the captain yelled something to the rest of the crew. There was
a desperate struggle and loud yelling and sounds of scuffling, and the scoundrel crewman
was dragged, kicking, yelling, and twisting forward to a hold on the foredeck into where he
was roughly thrown, and the door loudly bolted and locked.
The captain apologized with obvious embarrassment at his countryman's outburst and con-
tinued to explain, “Thes ship es actually an experiment by the Danish government. You
know of course that we are a socialist country and are very soft on our criminals. Dat guy
you saw now es a convicted criminal. He es now sixteen, but when he was only twaalf
years old, he got a record for armed robbery wit a gun ant other crimes. Our government
want to try to correct people like hem by sending them to sea in a boat. They belief that the
life of a sailor will straighten dem out. I thenk dat he maybe find some drink and yus go a
little crazy, ya?”
The girl was distraught and was talking and gesticulating heatedly to the captain now. He
just sat there and quietly nodded his head, a grave look on his face. One could tell that this
may have been a project he had instigated with the government, and it was not working out
or at least had a few serious problems that needed ironing out.
I had often thought that sailing out on the open seas with a big boat and all its hardships
and exuberance would help alter a young rebel's outlook on life. Teach him a bit of pride
and responsibility. I remember what a year of the South African army did for me; nothing
like a spot of discipline, hardship, and physical exercise for a young person.
Gavin and I signaled that it was time we took our leave and stood up to go.
“Thank you all so very much for a magical evening; we really enjoyed ourselves. You have
a very nice boat,” I said.
“Even the aborted mutiny was exciting!” quipped Gavin, and there was a round of laughter
that helped eased the tension.
