Sailing the Fine Line
– A Witty Voyage Through the Bureaucratic Tides of Maritime Life
“When the inspector boards, even the ship’s cat straightens its whiskers. Sailing the Fine Line captures that tension in rhyme—and then some.”
“Set aboard a merchant ship docked in Helsinki, Sailing the Fine Line turns a routine Port State Control (PSC) inspection into a poetic voyage—brimming with wit, anxiety, and unexpected humanity.”
Told in verse with sharp humor and seafarer’s insight, this book unpacks the often-unseen world of shipboard life, where officers and crew live under the microscope of maritime regulations, keeping one eye on the engine and the other on the inspector’s clipboard.
“The man from the office bore a face grim and long,
His jacket was pressed and his ethics quite strong.
He came with a checklist that threatened our peace,
Like a taxman with questions that never would cease.”
Amid drills, documentation, and diplomatic small talk, the real story unfolds—one of camaraderie, quiet panic, and the delicate balance between the letter of the law and the soul of the profession.
“The logbooks were tidy, the charts up to date,
But the fridge had a cockroach that sealed our fate.
A gurgle, a whirr, the genset did moan—
Would we pass this test or go down with a groan?”
Welcome aboard Sailing the Fine Line, my poetic logbook from a life lived at sea—and often between the lines. These verses grew out of moments—some maddening, some magical, some too absurd not to laugh at. What started as a journal entry after a routine ship inspection transformed into a collection of reflections: on work, on love, on the oddball rituals of bureaucracy, and the strange poetry in grease-stained gloves.
This isn’t just a sailor’s story—it’s a human one. A journey through everyday ironies, floating philosophies, and the strange stillness of life between ports.
Whether you’re a maritime insider or simply intrigued by life at sea, Sailing the Fine Line will leave you amused, moved, and just a little more attuned to the rhythm of ship and soul.
About the Author
I’ve spent most of my life at sea—counting waves, dodging typhoons, and occasionally laughing at forms more convoluted than the shipping routes they claim to manage. Somewhere between the silence of the ocean and the noise of my thoughts, I found my voice in verse.
“Sailing the Fine Line” is the first in a trilogy that weaves together satire, memory, and everyday marvels. Whether you’re a fellow sailor, a poetry lover, or just someone who appreciates a good laugh at life’s expense, I hope these stanzas speak to you.
Read on, if you have come this far….
So, if you’ve made it this far, thank you—and welcome again. What follows is not a grand declaration, but small echoes from a life between bulkheads and borderless skies. These stanzas aren’t meant to preach or impress; they simply wish to sit beside you, maybe raise an eyebrow or a smile, maybe stir a memory of your own.
Feel free to linger over the lines. If any of them remind you of your own journey—on land or sea—I’d love to hear it. Stories, after all, are best when they sail both ways.
On Seafarer's Daily Struggle and Stoic Resilience:
"Dreams clash with harsh reality,
Life at sea no jubilant revelry.
Yet behind a merry facade they wear,
Smiles adorned, a brave, silent prayer."
"But in each day, moments alight,
Cheerful hues, shadows take flight.
Positive thoughts in his hearts ring,
Amidst beauty,wonder,adventure's wing."
On Compliance, Absurdity, and Survival :
"And the ship is finally set free,
Bringing relief to every concerned bum,
Surely, like an orgasm, when it's finally come."
"Now the ship prepares for another port,
Fresh inspections and the same old retort."
On Philosophy and Poetic Irony :
"The conquest of desires, the soul's intent,
That keeps us alive, where we were sent,
Questions of why and what we'll be,
"Now the ship prepares for another port,
When we leave this world's tiny spree."
On Systemic Injustice and Power Structures:
Sailors scrutinized, bearing disdain's weight,
Owners escape, their profits to inflate.
Stringent laws punish each seafarer's mistake,
Owners absolved, their grand profits at stake.
On Humor, Wit, and Maritime Theater:
"With a wink and a smile, the chef keeps his stance,
While the crew in the background begins to dance.
One inspector trips on a loose plank,
Another finds a sailor's prank."
Thanks for reading this page dear reader. I would love to invite you to read the whole book. You can download the e-book version
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You can order the printed edition of the book by clicking these buttons
And if you do read the book, I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment or share your contact so I can let you know when the next voyage in this trilogy sets sail.