A Dark, Dank, Dreary Night Story

Imagine for a moment…we are in a 13-foot sailboat made of plywood and spruce, with an enclosed cabin, just long enough to stretch out in.

- Brad Kurlancheek

The height of said cabin is a few inches low of our sitting height in the fore area, and less than 18 inches in height above our knees to our feet, in the aft area. When lying down, our head rests to the starboard side of the mast step, and our feet are rest against the bulkhead of the middle seat. Behind our head is another bulkhead, separating the anchor stowage compartment, in the forecastle, from the cabin.

The width of our cabin is four feet. Since our head lies to starboard of the mast step when we’re reclined for the night, on the port side we have scattered about the stuff we don’t want to get wet—maps, seat pads, any clothing we might need, shoes, and gear, including binoculars, blanket pack, water, VHF radio, GPS, and cell phone (though useless since we’ve had no service anywhere since arriving at the Reservoir 6 days ago). There’s also a couple of flashlights, whistle, hull breach tape, headgear, and of course, “the captain”—one “MrTB,” aka Mister Teddy Bear, a 15-inch white bear, of the genus teddy, who is quite good for first rate company, especially when the crew finds himself in dire straits such as the present ones. And don’t even think of telling him he might not be real, as you’re liable to get a mouthful of sailor smack right back at you.