In the world of cruising, yachaties  are joined together by The Net.  At 8:30 every morning in Bandaris Bay a moderator comes over the VHF on channel 22 to welcome new boaters to the bay, say goodbye to those who are leaving, asks if anyone needs assistance or has something to trade.  This process is very orderly; done as a roll-call with each boater identifying themselves by their boat name. It was a rare occasion on the sailing vessel Oblivion for everyone to be up by 8:30 so we rarely listened , but one morning I found myself alone with The Net and it was fantastic.

The best part of the show comes after the hellos and good-byes and is the swap shop segment.  A typical transmission would be something like this:

Note: the names being used are not the real–mostly because I can’t remember them

“This is Dick on Seabatical and I’ve got two ball bearings that I will trade for coconuts or a 35 pound anchor”

Coconuts=money

or

“This is Carol on Sail Aweigh.  We are looking for three turn buckle shackles.  Will trade for coconuts or I cut hair which you can take in trade.”

This is all pretty normal stuff, but every once in a while there is a good one:

This is Rorey on Aussie’s Dream.  For those of you who saw the kids show yesterday you will understand.  First, I want to say that I’m ok.

The doctors patched up my face with just a few stitches.  But after that incident–and I have to say that this was the only time something like this has happened–I have to part ways with Rocky the Raccoon.

Other than this, he has been a great pet.  I rescued him when he was just a baby.  I don’t know what happened yesterday and I’m sorry for the kids who may have been frightened.  But I need to find Rocky a good home.  I know that I cannot take him with me across the Pacific.

I’m looking for a good home and will trade him for coconuts or a few oil filters.

After this transmission, the generally fast paced Net was silent.  Even the moderator didn’t quite know what to say.  The silence was broken with,

“I hear raccoons taste like chicken”

With entertainment like that, who needs a TV?!

Nancy