It was supposed to be a fun day....

We were on the 'Yankee', a 60' fishing boat, heading out of Harwich port on Cape Cod. She's carrying a large number of fishermen, including my friend Sonny and me. We're hoping to enjoy about five hours of deep sea fishing. Neither of us has much experience but, there can't be much to it. Just hang your line over the side and wait for a bite. If you run into a problem, the deck hands are there. They can bait a hook for the squeamish or cut away tangled lines. The entire crew consists of the Captain and two deck hands. 

Having cast off, the Yankee heads out from the protection of the Marina. She heads for deeper water. The weather is not good. Clouds and a stiff breeze blowing makes for a lot of 'chop'....small waves but, coming in all directions. Motoring out from the protection of the harbor the waves grow larger. The Yankee slices through them with ease. The up and down motion of the Yankee's bow plowing through the waves is exciting.....at first. People are busy getting their fishing gear ready. The deck hands are helping with baiting hooks and giving instructions to those that need them. Others are finding their spot along the gunnel so they can start fishing. After a long time and a long way from shore, the Captain announces that we are approaching a good fishing area. He throttles back the engines and circles a large area for a few minutes. Then suddenly, he kills the engines. We're adrift. Now things will get interesting.

Lots of chatter and excitement, no one notices the boat has stopped and is starting to 'rock and roll'. Many begin opening coolers and drinking their first beer...others start munching on sandwiches. My friend and I have dropped our lines over the side and are concentrating on our fishing poles and hoping for a bite. People moving to and from the concession bar. A few kids running around the deck.
 
Then it starts. Gradually at first. One here. One there. People start to turn a pale shade of green. The enthusiasm has waned and the smiles are gone. Not many are talking. Can sea sickness be far off? Answer..NO...within a few minutes this happy fishing boat has turned into a large bunch of sea sick individuals. No one is interested in fishing any more. The constant undulating Yankee has put an end to that. The only one seemingly  unaffected is Sonny. He's holding onto the gunnel with one hand, and fishing with the other. Meanwhile I'm beginning feeling that awful sensation. The boat's rolling action is having it's effect on me also. I feel small waves of nausea creeping in. I'm swallowing hard and often. I'm a sailor and have never been sea sick. I can't imagine spending the next five hours, before returning to port, being sea sick. With much effort I manage to get the nausea under control. After a while I manage to shake it off. I'm feeling much better. I turn my attention back to fishing. Others are not so lucky. The boat's bathroom is a disaster..you can use your imagination on that one..people are lying about the deck or hanging over the gunnel. Even the doorway into the boat's galley is blocked by a crumpled up individual to sick to move. The fun day, that was supposed to be a day of deep sea fishing, has turned into a 'hurry up and get us back to shore', OR 'if we stay out another minute, I'd rather die'!

The weather hasn't let up. Many pleas from passengers finally convince the captain to head back in early. Once under way the sickening motion is gone. The Yankee plows through the rough seas with ease. Eventually we reach the relative calm of the Marina's harbor. People begin returning to normal, regaining their composure. Once we reach the dock...they can't get off the Yankee fast enough. Solid ground feels so good. Sonny and I Managed to catch some nice fish and once my stomach settles down....I'm going out for a steak...oh, did I forget to mention...I don't eat fish. Never have. I can't explain why I went out fishing in the first place.

I know one thing...I'm so happy I don't have to clean that boat!!