The Amara Zee

I was reading in the stateroom late on Monday afternoon when I heard yelling to grab lines, more yelling to move lines, and even more yelling to move the lines once again.  I rushed up and out to see if I could give a hand and discovered this boat docking beside us.  It was covered up with young people trying to carry out the instructions the captain was barking at them.  They were all smiles but weren't clear about how to follow the captains docking instructions.  Finally, the dock master gave some  orders to the captain and crew which cleared up all the problems.  The lines were adjusted and the Amara Zee was tucked in for the day.  The crew of actors and actresses aboard the Amara Zee provided us with much entertainment as they came off the boat in groups eager to get showers or go for a run to stretch their legs.  We heard them late into the night laughing, singing, and playing a guitar.  

On board were the Caravan Stage company which performs on the deck of this boat.  The masts and rigging are used for scenery, lighting and special effects.  The shows are staged on the entire deck and on the surrounding ground while the boat is docked.  The boat has a shallow draft which allows it greater mobility for performance venues.  It is not however a sea worthy vessel--it would not be wise to take this boat out into the ocean. 

"Hacked" is the name of the current performance.  They were leaving Jacksonville heading to Portsmouth Virginia for 3 days of shows in early July with performances through out the summer in Maryland, New Jersey, and Canada before finishing the season in Brooklyn, New York.  

These performers obviously fell for Piper who ate up all the attention

This boat has an actual starboard .  The term starboard comes from early boating before ships had rudders on their center lines.  They were guided by a steering oar (steering board).  The steering oar was  attached to the right side of the ship because there were more right handed sailors than left handed sailors.  Starboard became the term for the side from which the boat was steered.   Today starboard means the right side of the boat and port means the left side.  

As I was making coffee the next morning I glanced out the window to see two of the men aboard using our water hose after removing the spray attachment.  I don't mind sharing our hose or our water, but they were using it to bathe on the dock.  Showers are provided by the marina with both hot and cold running water.  They had options.   They obviously did not understand that the hose provides our CLEAN DRINKING water because they proceeded to put the hose directly onto their armpits, head and bodies.   Looks like we will be cleaning the hose with Clorox.  

Life at the marina is always interesting....


Joy