Captain Lee: The Crew is Struggling
"It had better change or there will be some consequences."
Wow, this week is really something else. I have no frigging idea where to start. We had a lot of stuff going on, and plus we had a charter break out in the middle of it all. Here we are on our fourth charter and these guys are great. They love to have fun. They do enjoy their libations, appreciate the food, where they are at, and all the toys as well. Plus, percentage wise, this is the best tip of the season: $1300.00 and change for one day. Can you say over the top? Great group.
The crew, however, is struggling just a bit, and there are a variety of reasons. There still seems to be some friction between Ben and Kate. Call me silly, but I feel that Kate’s new girlfriend is the catalyst for this abnormal behavior displayed by Ben.
Ben seems obsessed with the fact that someone else is taking up all the time that he and Kate used to spend together and now that she has switched his focus, he seems to be having difficulties with that. He gets all over her about the dinner, saying that he wanted that information three hours ago. News flash Ben! She gave you that info about dinner three hours ago; you were not paying attention to Kate. You only made your own life difficult for this one-day charter. No one else did. But as usual, the food was superb and on time. You hit it out of the park once again, and with a splendid breakfast thrown in to boot. I really hope you find something to help you get over this Kate thing. Just my opinion but it seems to have gotten inside your head a wee bit. Good luck with that.
And on the flip side, Kate, you seem really smitten with Ro. It seems as though I should have gotten you two a room at Scrub Island. She couldn’t stay away from you. I’m not sure I have seen someone as aggressive as Ro is with you. It appeared almost smothering at times. Maybe it was just me. She seemed to enjoy jerking Ben’s chain at every opportunity though. I don’t feel that your texting was interfering with your work. As you know, if I did feel that way I would have said something to you, in spite of the fact that I am (according to Kelley) totally terrified of you. I would have dug deep and found the courage to speak up somehow.
Moving along, lets get into my take on how Kelley is progressing. I don’t think that Kelley had an exceptional week. I think your sister Amy has rubbed off on you. She is the sweetest girl and always is trying to please everyone. I think that is what you are trying to do with your crew. Your crew was not doing you any favors. I let the windows go for two days just to see how long it would take before someone besides me noticed them. It never happened. Some of your crew sat down in the crew mess having a leisurely breakfast and didn’t even move to wipe down outside, or clean up, or do much of anything. That’s what I needed you to notice. I didn’t need you to cover for them. I needed you to recognize what they were and weren’t doing. When I come to you it’s because they have let you down, and you haven’t done anything about it. It's tough to be friends and a boss at the same time. You seem to be finding this out, albeit the hard way. You can be friendly, but work is work and they need to realize that.
When I was calling you on the radio, and you didn’t respond because you were in the head, two crew were sitting right there next to your radio and neither one called out to you to let you know that I was looking for you. Maybe they didn’t know you were in the head, but they could have shouted out to see if you were somewhere in the area to attempt to be helpful. Not your best effort, but I am by no means throwing in the towel. We have a long way to go, and I’m not giving up on you.
Let's move on to Lauren. Really? Did you just try to throw Kelley under the bus? Because in four charters and numerous anchor drops and retrievals with you present at almost all of them, you didn’t learn how to do it properly? If we burn up that Windlass Motor because someone can’t give the proper hand signal when we're pulling the anchor so I know where to put the yacht, then our charter season is effectively over. You sit down below at the crew mess and have a carefree breakfast while there is work to be done, and then you get called on it and have the nerve to tell Kelley that he doesn’t have your back? Your back for what? Not doing the job like you’re supposed to? Sorry kid, you get defended when someone comes at you for something and you are not in the wrong. That’s not the case here, you were totally wrong. And don’t worry, everyone is going to get the same opportunity that you just had, so don’t think for a second that you are going to be the only one in the spotlight. Everyone else will get their chance to shine up there, while you’re in the wheelhouse with me observing what I see and then let's see how they do.
Nico, nice job with keeping the ladies safe. That was a heads up move. Nicely done.
Sierra, I’m not entirely sure what to make of you. Did you seriously not know that when I said, "Make a round of painkillers," that I was talking about drinks? I don’t know, I just find that really incredible, but I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt.
Emily, you had another good week, I feel. You just keep your head down and do your job. One less thing that Kate has to worry about, and subsequently me as well. Thanks.
Kyle, are you sure you speak English? Because even when I take it rather slow, I really have a difficult time. Especially over the radio. Speaking of the radios, what is with the whole crew and the lack of paying attention to the radios? It had better change or there will be some consequences.
As far as anything that happened or didn’t happen on the crew’s day off, I just have a few observations and they are as follows: Kelley, I’m not sure that your "subtle" moves on Emily are going the way you perceive them to. Notice I put the word subtle in quotes. I'm just saying that you may want to review your tactics. Just a thought. Ben, I honestly felt bad for you. Ro kept jerking your chain again and again. It will pass. Kyle, you really are busting a hardcore move on Sierra in spite of what your intuition is telling you. Should always listen to that little voice inside your head. It’s almost always right. Kate, I have commented on yours in a previous paragraph so that’s that. All in all I thought it was a good day off.
Well that’s my take on the past week. It wasn’t the easiest week, but I’m sure it won’t go down as the hardest one either. We still have a long way to go. So until next week, may the wind be at your back and calm water under your keel. Stay safe my friends.
