It’s nearly July in 2017. And in ten days, I’ll be back at CampNaNoWriMo.

After much planning and dreaming, I finally sent off my application to participate in the sail training aboard the Brig Lady Washington, aka the HMS Interceptor (in Disney’s first “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie).  The training is called “2 Weeks Before the Mast.”

One question on the application seemed too important to me to be relegated to the two mere lines provided for on the form.  So, I added a page.  And here is what I wrote.  ^_^

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Please describe your primary reason(s) for wanting to take part in this voyage:
This is the most important question on the application for me.  My main reason probably sounds ridiculously poetic (and way too long), but it is based on the experience I had while taking the Passage aboard the Lady Washington from Half Moon Bay to Moss Landing, in November 2008, and I would regret if I didn’t express it here.  What I remember so clearly:  I got to sleep aboard her the night before.  It wasn’t an easy sleep, as the surroundings were so new and unusual to me, but at the same time, it was a remarkable feeling to be able to do so.  I remember being woken well-before dawn, going on deck, and hearing the foghorn as we glided out of the HMB harbor and into the Pacific.  Then, about an hour later, witnessing the sunrise on the port side, as a breeze was coming up a bit.  Any usable wind was almost non-existent during the entire passage, and the motor was used throughout.  But it made the voyage last even longer, which was wonderful.  Halfway through, I went back to the main hold and lay down on one of the bunks, and the movement of the boat over the choppy waves–instead of making me seasick–simply rocked me gently to sleep, and I napped for an hour or so.  As the afternoon, and our voyage, progressed, I watched the canvas high above the deck, and marveled at how a force of nature was propelling us over the sea.  Then, reaching Monterey Bay, the sun was setting, and another ‘Passage’ guest began playing on his bagpipes.  Suddenly, time had no meaning for me.  The years melted away and it could have been centuries ago.  I’ll never forget the bliss of that moment.

What I witnessed during those 24 hours was a ‘universe’ unlike anything I’d ever experienced before, so far away from the concept of life on land, and not just on a physical level.  It was very hard to properly put into words, and still is.  But I came to realize, internally, that the life of a crew aboard such a vessel is so totally and wonderfully unique.  It was, indeed, a life-changing experience for me.  And I knew what I wanted to do, and have been yearning to do, ever since.

I wish to be part of such a crew aboard a tall ship, even if only for the brief two-week training, to feel the kinship of working together to guide and care for the beautiful vessel that keeps all safe atop the deep unknown of the ocean, as in the palm of a protective hand, a vessel which also heeds the commands of the helm, to take them where they wish to go.

Beyond that, I am thrilled by the idea of portraying a role from the past, and thereby helping educate people of all ages who wish to know more of these lovely vessels and the history surrounding them.  To ignite the same love I feel for historic ships, in children as well as in adults, would be a wonderful joy.

Oh, and I wish to absolutely work my ass off, doing something that I love.  ^_^

Sails of the Brig Lady Washington

The Stories So Far …
 Work(s) In Progress:

• WIP#1  (by Seaborn Reed) Historical fiction which I began writing during NaNoWriMo 2011, then continued throughout 2012, including Camp NaNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo 2012, and beyond into 2013.  This story has so far reached nearly 300K words, and I’m not sure if it will turn out to be one epic novel, or a trilogy.  It quite possibly could need 50K more words.  Takes place in the Caribbean of the 1720s, featuring square-rigged ships, crystal aqua seas, disguises, 2nd chances, voodoo, slaves, intrigue … oh, and pirates, of course.  Suitable for 13 and older.

• WIP#2  (by X. X. Xxxx–pen name TBD) This is a screenplay which takes place in England and Germany during the 1930s and 1940s.  It is a story that I had been wanting to write for decades, researching and taking notes for, but never having the courage to actually put it into motion.  Finally, last year, during the Office of Letters and Light’s ‘ScriptFrenzy,’ I actually did begin the screenplay.   I completed the necessary 100 pages for the challenge, but didn’t finish the script.  I actually feel the story was barely started in those pages, perhaps as little as a quarter of the storyline done.  As a film, it would appropriately be rated ‘R.’
  

• There are a number of other stories which I have outlines and notes for that I hope to get started writing on this year, as well.  They are all historical fiction, with one or two of them having the potential for the romantic genre (possibly marketable!), or screenplays.  Settings include WWII London; 1850 Scotland with a hint of India; 1940s rural South Carolina; 1890s English countryside; and early-1800s Portsmouth, England.  I might just throw in one set in the southern Colonies during the Revolutionary War, for good measure.

For actual names of sails — such as those found on square-rigged vessels like the Brig Lady Washington shown above — I’ll maneuver you to this here page:  NAMES OF MASTS AND SAILS .