I was reminded by Nick’s mum that 9 months ago I’d promised to put the reworked Sea Fever poem on the blog. So here it is! It’s from the Assarain II Tall Ships Race in 2008 (effectively a round Britain sail, on a Sigma 38 at full capacity), but still rings true for many a sailing adventure:
I must go down to the seas again, on a sigma thirty-eight,
And all I ask is a GPS and a helm that can steer straight,
And the deck’s leak and the head’s pong and the host of muscles aching,
And a green look on the crew’s face, and a rig that won’t stop breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the VHF
Is a quiet call and a muffled call that was never at its best,
And all I ask is a windless day with the white sails dying,
And a strong tide and a rocky coast and a depth sounder that’s lying.
I must go down to the pubs again, to the sailors’ party life,
To the drinkers’ way and the dancers’ way where the land’s full of lovers’ strife,
And all I ask is another rum from a Captains Daughters rover,
And a long sleep, and a funny dream, in the hope that its not over.
Andy K
