Rising Stakes

Today is just another day on the dock for me.  Our crew has been at sea for more than a week and I am still waiting for “my boat,” the North American to arrive.  It has been a frustrating wait.  Every day takes me further from the stories that are already in progress on other boats out there.  I know that Captain Sten Skaar and the crew of the North American have their work cut out for them.  Their boat has not fished in two years and they are playing catch up.  Not only do they have to prepare the boat for fishing, but they also have to go through a host of rigorous checks of all of their safety systems.  I have received word that some of the other Deadliest Catch boats are beginning to suffer breakdowns and equipment failures.  The stakes are rising for them as well.

Thinking back, this isn’t so different from my start with the show. I had to wait in Dutch Harbor for my first boat, the F/V Sea Star, too.  While I was waiting I learned that there had been a major accident on board the Sea Star.  I was shocked to learn that my assigned boat had just called in a mayday. I heard that the crew had made a routine check and discovered that the lazarette, the watertight stern compartment on the boat, was flooded with six feet of water.  The vessel was in grave danger of sinking, and the ship’s Captain Larry Hendricks had no choice but to call for rescue. I didn’t sleep at all that night.  I spent the hours writing should-I-not-return letters to each member of my family.  It was probably the most emotional night of my life.

Five years later, I truly understand that there are many dangers to vessels in the open sea.  I also understand that the ice and rough waters of the Bering Sea multiply all of the factors that can cause critical problems on fishing vessels.  Thinking again of the North American and of the insidious dangers that we will face this season, I have decided to be more patient.   I now realize that every extra minute that Captain Sten, his brother John, and the rest of the NA crew spend getting their boat ready is a moment well spent.  In this moment of clarity I truly understand what is at stake. That stack of letters still sits on a shelf in my closet at home.  It is only through the care and vigilance of others that they will never have to be delivered.

Comments

[Steveanonymus2]

Nice tidbit of info. I had never heard of that incident before

[MonicaM]

Hey Doug! It's been a while! I'm just getting caught up on the show this season and your blog--sounds like a frustrating beginning but hopefully you guys will get off the docks soon. :) My mom mentioned that she posted last summer--I saw your nice response and thought I'd pop in and say hi and congratulate you on all of your success. So do you spend all of your time fishing now or do you still get to the bowl? I imagine it's a little cold to raft in the Bering? LOL.

[jerry]

wher can i buy bait canisters used in traps