I Drove the Ship

Probably you’re not supposed to say “drove” but I’m not sure of the correct word.  Helmed?

While the crew was not far away, still I was in charge (way more than that time I flew a plane).  It takes immense concentration and it’s terrifying, look at my eyes:

september 8 2009
It’s worth a billion bucks, we were speeding along at 21 knots and if I were to jam the wheel too quickly everyone and everything below would start flying around.  I lasted 8 minutes before I said, “thank you no more”.  

Then I learned about navigation, and that screen there is the ship’s main navigation screen.

A path between points A and B is decided and entered into the computer based on ‘waypoints’ – little spots along the way that when you reach them in real life, a change in course is required.  To consistently hit all the waypoints you must do constant, fast and accurate math in your head which is why one is stationed here for 4 hours at a time max.  

Sea navigation is done in yards, miles and degrees, and when I asked what happens if you’re a few degrees off the reply was “this is the formula drilled into our heads – 1 degree at 1 mile = 33 yards”.  They told me to test people tomorrow to see if they knew the forumula, okay.

I also asked if anyone checks up on the actual course sailed versus the charted one, “oh yes Keri, and if they see a zigzagy line well, that’s just embarrassing”, ha.