Boatgirl #10: Finally Shipped - France

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4 April, 2002
23:19 48 52.41' N, 005 06.17' W
400.9 nautical miles from Greenwich, off the pointy bit of France
Sea condition: Rough (7.5-12 ft waves)
Wind speed: Force 8 (Gale)
Heading: 225.4
Speed: 15.1 knots

Dahna dahna dana dana....Boatgirl! Boatgirl has finally boated. Or shipped, sorry, not allowed to call it a boat.

I embarked at Tilbury on Saturday afternoon, and caught my first glimpse of my new home for the next few weeks. She's big, white and pointy.

The next day, at 5am, we lurched forward in the direction of Greenwich and I was suddenly awake. I suppose it's a combination of jetlag, and never having been on a ship before. On the way up the Thames, we passed the Tate & Lyle sugar warehouses, where my grandfather used to unload sugar as a sailor. We passed through the Thames Barrier, the gates that keep London from flooding in bad weather.

As we approached, I noticed it was going to be quite a tight fit. I wasn't really nervous, until Grandad muttered that we should be slowing down. My dad's only comment was, "Wouldn't that be embarassing?"

We charged through the gates with what appeared to be a few feet of clearance on either side. Our pilot must have been quite confident. Apparently, a river pilot comes on board to guide the ship for the captain.

After a few days of Queen Mum madness, we set sail again. I didn't go and pay my respects, as my Gran (the world's most ardent royalist, who waited for 29 hours to see the Queen's coronation) wasn't up to standing in line for 6 hours. I did watch some of the funeral procession on television though. It was eerie to see London so completely silent.

So, we're in open ocean now, only water and a few other ships visible. I'm not sick at all. Yet. There's a noticeable roll, but it only seems to make me sleepy. It funny to watch everyone weaving down the hallways; they all look drunk.

My favorite thing so far, was the lifeboat drill. First, let me explain, about the leather pant conspiracy. The prevailing fashion among the ladies on board consists of leather pants, too much makeup, dodgy hair dye and LOTS of gold jewelry. It's fantastic. I want to be just like them when I grow up.

So, anyway, when the ship sails, new passengers are taken through a lifeboat drill. We met at our muster station and were given life jackets to put on. One unfortunate lady had her hair in curlers, covered by a leopard print scarf, a large endeavor. With all that, she couldn't get the life jacket over her head, so she just stood there holding it. The safety director asked her nicely, she demurred. He requested; she protested, demonstrating the physical impossibility of the situation. He demanded; she pouted. He tried to explain the necessity of the exercise; she defended her position.

Finally, he told her that if she put it on wrong and had to jump into the water, she would probably break her neck, so it was rather important that she learn to do it correctly. She gave in and left the curlers and scarf looking like an abandoned animal, in a pile on the floor. It was all pretty entertaining.


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