Entry No. 10: Drunk and Disorderly Seas

Andy Hillstrand is an easy captain to get along with.  He seldom gets angry, spending the majority of his time with a smile on his face. Today, however, his usual smile was absent.   Andy was deep in concentration. All of his attention was focused on a drunk and disorderly sea.  He was on guard as each wave struck the bow of our vessel, tossing spray across the length of the boat, blasting the wheelhouse windows and temporarily blocking his view of the deck.

Breaking the silence, I asked Andy a question, but he did not hear me; instead he darted his head to the side and quickly sized up the approaching waves.  In conditions like these a rogue wave could suddenly appear and wreak havoc on the Time Bandit. Andy was doing his best to protect his crew, but he also knew that the work still had to be done.   The deckhands worked with their heads down, trying to finish up before the brunt of the storm hit us.  They were all wet and cold.

A small wave, only 10 feet high, broke as it approached our starboard rail.  Its whitewater slapped the side of the boat, sending spray straight into Russell’s face.  As he whipped his head to clear his eyes of salt water, he glared up at Andy at the helm.  Captain Andy raised both hands up in a gesture that said, “Sorry, dude.”  Russell just shook his head at the captain.  Before he turned around and headed back to work he noticed me in the wheelhouse windows and our eyes met briefly. I suddenly felt guilty for being warm and dry.  I decided that it was time to head back out on deck.

Downstairs I donned my foul weather fishing gear, cleaned my lens and stepped outside into the wind and spray. Before I had made it 20 feet, a knee-high wave washed across the deck.  I leaped into the air several times trying to avoid the inevitable, but my boots filled with ice-cold seawater anyway.  My antics, obviously a source of amusement, did not go unnoticed. All of the deckhands were laughing at me. Mimicking the captain, Russell threw both of his gloved hands in the air, palms up, making me laugh as well. As I squish-squished the remaining steps across the deck the chill began to sink in.  I was wet and cold, but feeling entirely free of guilt.

Comments

[Christa]

I would Do the same thing (Jumping up too keep the water out). At least they got some laughs out of it. Keep up the great work. I at first did not like the Time Bandit but now I see that they are just as cool (no pun ment) as the other boats!!!!!!! Thank you for doing what you do! I love the show!!!!!!!!!

[Gina Marie]

It's raining here (Eastside Seattle) so I thought about the guys today out there fishing, knowing the weather on the Seas has to be pretty darn rough today. Truly enjoy reading your blogs and I watch the show all the time. I have a few times fished/Gillnet the Columbia river for Salmon and have high respects for the Captain and crew of all the AK crab fishermen, they make rodeo bull riders look like mutton busters out there when it comes to living on the edge. Please continue writing your blogs, and stay safe out there!

[Kelli]

I really enjoy the show the Time Bandit has always been my favorite. I live in a small town in Tennessee. I'm addicted to the show. I think about what you guys do, I love crab.
Keep up the great work. Can't wiat till next season.
Go Jonathon Hillstrand Get top spot
You can do this

Kelli,
Pulaski, Tenn.

[Kristin]

I am a recently addicted to this show. Now I just have a total need to know more now. Thank you for the excellent show you do. I have learned more about a different way of life in such a short period of time and it also has driven me to realize that I can accomplish so much.

I can't believe you went out there. I can't believe every time I watch what the crews and you production peeps do.
WOW!

[Lucy]

I really appreciate reading these updates. I can't get enough of Deadliest Catch and could watch After the Catch all night. It's all Deadliest Catch all the time at my house. I love listening to the stories; I wish there were a lot more installments of After the Catch. One can only hope in the future, there will be.

Also, I have to say the segment with Sig on deck was awesome! He's still got it (was there any doubt)! He should get down there on deck and enjoy himself a little more often.

Anyway, I so much appreciate the brave efforts of the fishing crews and the camera crews in bringing us wonderful crabmeat to eat and such terrific footage. There is never a dull moment.

God bless you guys and safe home.

[Katie]

wow i can't beleive that u guys do this! have you ever been sea sick i have and it was not fun, but any way love the show it is so cool to see the hard stuff and not this easy stuff people do for a living.

[Christine]

Hello Doug. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate the personal risk you are taking to bring us a great show. It must be hard for you at times. I have a question though -I read the credits at the end of the show and there are a couple of photographers with the last name Stanley. Are you all family? I know I saw the name Todd Stanley and someone else that I can't remember. What a huge risk if you are all out on the seas at the same time. Take care of yourselves.

[Sara]

My son got me addicted to this show during the very first season. Now that he is out on his own, he never misses coming home on Tuesday nights to watch DC. One of my favorite crews is Captain Sig and the bunch, so for Christmas I received a Cap Sig. mug. I now would like to give my son one of his favorite crew of the Time Bandit. Do they have a website? Who would of thought a 40 year old woman from Fredericksburg, Va. would be caught!!!!

[Susan]

Love you guys for all that you do to let us be able to watch these guys!! I'm completely hooked!!

Sara, I found the "Bering sea-special forces" t shirt at timebandit.tv DH is getting it for fathers day!

[Bella]

Watched the show tonight it was awsome as always can't wait to see who wins top spot. Go Time Bandit

[Doug Stanley]

To the reader who asked if the Stanley family was all out at sea...yes there are two Stanley Brothers. Todd Stanley and Doug Stanley. Both of us have been involved in the show since the show was called "Americas Deadliest Season" prior to deadliest catch. As a producer and a serious photographer, Todd has brought you stories from the Arctic Dawn, the Retriever, the Western Viking, the Rollo and most recently the Far West Leader. I am pretty proud of my younger brother as you can tell. It must be pretty hard being my younger brother!

By the way, the show opens with a panning time lapse shot by my fiance Rhea Meyers, a producer of the show and an Audio Supervisor as well. She is also a regular member of the Dirty Jobs crew. We will be getting married on June 23rd in an amazing 250 person pirate wedding on the South Fork of the American River. Our 5month old son Rex is also part of the deadliest catch family. Check out the Behind the Scenes that will play in the Deadliest Catch time slot in a couple of weeks. In case nobody has told you...we love making this show, all of us on the deadliest catch crew!
Keep watching and we'll keep heading north on your behalf...that's how it works guys.
Doug
Doug

[Alaina]

That's awesome about the brothers and congratulations on your wedding! Thank you so much for bringing us this show and truly risking your lives with the crew to bring us such wonderful episodes. Keep up the great work guys! And again thank you!

[Jessette]

Congratulations Doug on your upcoming, and what sounds to be a delightfully unique wedding. But even more so, Congratuations on the birth of your son Rex and a very Happy Fathers Day to you, as life brings you such joy!

You can guarantee I'm enjoying yet another breathtaking season of the Deadliest Catch! Thanks for all that you have done!

[Ducky]

I was just watching the show and noticed Johnathan was the skip for the Opilio crab season this year. Wahappun to Andy? Did he jump ship after cutting the rope from the prop and bailing out one of his crewmates?

[michael]

Great show Doug! Inredible camera work. Stay safe. Just a suggestion for a song to do a video montage to, Dougie Maclean's "Ready for the storm " the lyrics are aprapos for the show. The lyrics are here.

O the waves crash in and the tide pulls out
It's an angry sea but there is no doubt
That the lighthouse will keep shining out
To warn the lonely sailor
And the lightning strikes and the wind cuts cold
Through the sailor's bones to the sailor's soul
Till there's nothing left that he can hold
Except the rolling ocean

Chorus:

But I am ready for the storm, yes sir ready
I am ready for the storm, I'm ready for the storm

Give me mercy for my dreams
For every confrontation seems
To tell me what it really means
To be this lonely sailor
But when the sky begins to clear
And the sun it melts away my fear
I'll cry a silent weary tear
For those that need to ove me

Chorus

But distance it is no real friend
And time it takes its time
But you will find that in the end
It brings you me the lonely sailor
But when you take me by your side
You love me warm, you love me
And I should have realized
I had no reasons to be frightened

Chorus

All the Best
Michael

[Cathy Courtney]

Love watching the show even watch reruns every day.Time Bandit and Northwestern are favorites,never know what they will do joking around.I have respect for all of them for such a dangerous job.Keep up the good work.

[Wendy Buckett]

Love your show, you guys are totally mad. Saw the show in the bar in Seattle talking about life on the seas and the host mentioned a book called "Working on the Edge". Could you please tell me who the author is. I would love to buy it but I live in Australia and don't know if it has been released here, or whether it ever will be. If I have the author, the local bookstore man may be able to find it. If maybe you could tell me how to get hold of a copy.

Just want to say I admire you guys and your families. You do it tough and always manage to come home in one piece. Well done! Keep up the good work!!!

Wendy

[Wendy Buckett]

Love your show, you guys are totally mad. Saw the show in the bar in Seattle talking about life on the seas and the host mentioned a book called "Working on the Edge". Could you please tell me who the author is. I would love to buy it but I live in Australia and don't know if it has been released here, or whether it ever will be. If I have the author, the local bookstore man may be able to find it. If maybe you could tell me how to get hold of a copy.

Just want to say I admire you guys and your families. You do it tough and always manage to come home in one piece. Well done! Keep up the good work!!!

Wendy

[Doug Stanley]

Spike Walker wrote the book "working on the edge". I read it before I first headed to sea. It is awesome. Spike also wrote a number of other books. Hope that he keep it up.
Doug

[steven marsico]

i was wondering when the next season of deadliest catch starts i cant wait to see the time bandit and the northwestern with sig and the gang onboard again when do they ship out this year for more king crab

[Katie]

I just want to say I love the show and I love what you do! When I am done with school I am looking for a career in documentary film, and it was watching this show that inspired me to want to do this.

[stephen holmes]

i would love to see all the old episodes of dealiest catch before the new season starts. i realy enjoy the show and just thinking of it gets me by in my daily life and when i'm at work and even when were out there fishing on those slower days.

[jim raimar]

In the opening roll they show a scene where a flaming hook is thrown at the line. What is this for? superstition, show location? or what?