Epilogue

Long ago, while engrossed in the novels of that great writer of sea stories Viktor Konetskiy, a phrase spoken by one the protagonists in his anthology Yesterday's Cares, burned itself in my memory, and today I have adopted it as the epigraph for this book:

"Even a fool can go to sea,
As for returning safe to harbour..."

This phrase served as the leitmotif throughout my life as an officer in the Navy. I strove to adhere to this credo, and on the rare occasion that I strayed from this principle, fate administered the proverbial kick in the pants. I made a simple conclusion: do not fear the sea – love it, respect its strength and it will respond likewise, permitting you to return to you home shores.

I wish the new generation of commanders and captains seven feet under the keel. You will soon learn from your own experience that the thrill and pleasure derived from independent control of your ship is comparable only to the joy of possessing a beautiful, young, loving and intelligent woman.

To the young, I would also like to say that although the age of great geographic discoveries is over, and all islands and new lands are now known geography is not dead and the the romance of the sea has not disappeared. If you feel attracted to adventure, and have strength, will power, determination, courage, intelligence and talent, then there is no better place to test these virtues than the oceans and the seas. There is still scope for great feats; after all, discoveries and great feats were not achieved by human plankton in their little offices, but in the crash and din of raging waves, smashed masts, tearing sails and the shrill of the battle alarm.

Bon voyage!

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