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Let me go back to my ancestors.
My grandfather was captain at the sailing vessel Susanne, sailing in the North Sea, Skagerak and the Baltic Ocean. I have an oil painting showing Susanne at home. See a photo from the painting below.
My mother's father did not have a similar career at sea. But after confirmation, 15 year old he signed on as a rookie on an old wreck named Helen. After some months he had to take over for the cook who signed off in a harbour with a lot of ''girls''. Approaching the first harbour the locals boarded the ship to sell bananas from their small open boats. My mother's father had nearly tasted bananas before end got tempted. But with no money he decided to give in exchange for some bananas his silver pocketknife given to him as a present when he had his confirmation. He was happy for some hours until they started loading cargo in the harbour. You guessed right, the cargo was bananas, tons of bananas!
My father also joined the life at sea for a period. For some years before World War II he worked as a radio operator at the whalery Hektoria in the southern Arctic Ocean. Sorry to not be able to show pictures. By the way, steak from whale meat tastes delicious. Once a year I am lucky to get some pounds.
And now myself.
My first time at sea was at the age of 17 in 1961. For one summer I worked
as a radio operator at the ship Sanct Svithun for 6 tours from Bergen to Kirkenes close to the Russian border
far north. Sanct Svithun was a very nice ship, take a look at the picture below. But on the first trip I
was terribly seasick. But when the most of the throwing up was over, the first mate pulled me into the gallery
and cured me for the sickness. - The cure? A huge plate covered with fried eggs and bacon in enormous slices.
I am cured forever! I have experienced all the Norwegian cost from the Swedish border to the Russian border. I
would very much see the coast in northern Norway with the midnight sun again. Sorry this is not possible onboard
the Sanct Svithun. She wrecked in the winter storm after I signed off.
The next chapter for me at sea was one year at the drilling barge Ocean Traveler (pictures below)in the
period 1968/1969. I started as a controlroom operator (responsible for the stability of the rig in the water)
for half a year, and then as a radiooperator. It was a fascinating time. We drilled both in Norwegian and
British sector. Storm with 20-meter waves is quite an experience! And the T-bone steaks and the spare ribs ....!
I had my own boat in 1987. - Well, I did have
this one many years earlier, built by my grandfather!
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