A sailor doesn't just fall in love with the sea; the sea allows it, especially when they are hundreds of miles out, with nothing in sight but the silhouettes of other ships on the endless horizon.

The sea beckons you to go further into the unknown, never knowing what to expect but always being vigilant as you steam forward.

There is no other place on earth where you can witness pods of whales and countless dolphins playing with hundreds of tons of steel as they speed right past you, letting you know your presence is welcome in their world.

Giant turtles and manta rays, some as big as a small car, come alongside the mighty warship that slows to a crawl to witness nature's best and sometimes its worst.

The sea is Mother Nature's kindness. Its glassy water and gentle breezes put you in a state of calm and wonder. But her wrath can be quick and furious, as waves as tall as a ten-story building crash down on the warship, leaving it to bob around like a cork, defenseless and at her mercy.

Sacrifices are few, but men overboard occur more than we care to count as another sailor is pulled into the depths of Neptune's realm. It's been said that some go smiling as their dream of becoming one with the sea is a reality.

Back on land, a sailor counts the days to sail again to unknown parts of the sea and the wonders that await him. He's taken this journey many times and wouldn't change a thing. The smell of the sea and salt hits your face as you look at that endless horizon around you.

I was born to be a sailor and always will be as long as there's a sea to sail and respect to give to the guardians of the deep.

Mike 2025