Got the nod today to join the big show.

[Robert C. Beauregard]

Got a email from Waterman today. I'll be heading back in a couple of weeks as Master of the Maersk Arkansas. My first skippers job in the unlimited slot.

[James Hutton]

Bob,
You are the Man! How have you been? We are getting near accepting our fourth Fisheries Vessel.
Regards,
Jamie

[Robert C. Beauregard]

Got another email yesterday. In a few weeks I'm heading out to Djihbouti for a stint as master of the MAERSK ALABAMA. Oh this ought to be fun.

[James Hutton]

I realize that I'm past the sign on date but can you make an exception for a friend? I was thinking of bringing my Francotte 12 gauge side by side and my colt 45 side arm but you offer a better selection. Also, I would like to bring my wife so sign me up for two. Thanks, Jamie

[Robert C. Beauregard]

Found this on the net. The site includes picture, here's a re-print o fthe text. Pretty funny.

http://www.tothepointnews.com/content/view/3617/85/

THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE CRUISE

To The Point News
Thursday, 07 May 2009

To The Point is excited to offer the ultimate adventure cruise along the pirate-infested coast of Somalia!

We board our luxury cruise ship in Djibouti on the Gulf of Aden near the entrance to the Red Sea, and disembark in Mombassa, Kenya seven adrenaline-charged days later.

Starting at $5,200 per-person (double occupancy, inside room) and $6,900 (veranda complete with bench rest), you'll relax like never before.

That's because you are welcome to bring your own arsenal with you. If you don't have your own weapons, you can rent them from our onboard Master Gunsmith. Enjoy reloading parties every afternoon with skeet and marksmanship competitions every night!

But the best fun of all, of course, is Pirate Target Practice.

For the object of the cruise is to sail up and down the Somali Coast waiting to get hijacked by pirates. The weapons rental costs are as follows.

Rent a full auto M-16 for only $25/day with ammo attractively priced at $16 per 100 rounds of 5.56 armor-piercing:
On a budget? Rent a full-auto scope-mounted AK-47 for only $9/day with 7.62 ball ammo at $12 per 100 rounds:
Hello! Nothing gets a pirate's attention like a Barrett M-107 .50-cal sniper rifle; only $59/day with 25 rounds of armor-piercing ammo affordably priced at only $29.95.
Need a spotter? Our professional crew members can double as spotters for only $30/hour (spotting scope included, but gratuities are not.)

Want to make a real impact? Rent an RPG for only $175/day with three fragmentation rounds included!
Also included: Free complimentary night vision equipment - and throughout the night, coffee, pastries and snacks are always available on the main deck from 7pm until 6am.

Our deluxe package comes complete with gourmet meals and all rooms offer a mini-bar.

But that's not all! Twin mounted miniguns are available for rental at only $450.00 per 30 seconds of sustained fire!
We guarantee that you will experience at least two hijacking attempts by pirates or you'll receive an instant $1,000 refund upon arrival in Mombassa.

How can we make that guarantee? We operate at 5 knots just beyond 12 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia, thus in international waters where pirates have no rights whatever. In fact, we make three passes through the area's most treacherous waters to ensure maximum visibility by Somali "mother ships".



We repeat this for five days, making three complete passes past the entire Somali Coast. At night, the boat is fully lit and bottle rockets are shot every five minutes with loud disco music directionally beamed shoreside to attract maximum attention.


Testimonials from previous participants in the Somali Cruise:

"Six attacks in 4 days were more than I expected. I bagged three pirates, my wife nailed two, and my 12-year old son sank two boats with the mini-gun. This wonderful cruise was fun for the whole family" -- Fred D., Cincinnati, OH

"Pirates 0, Passengers 32! Well worth the trip! Can't recommend it highly enough!" -- Ben L., Bethesda, MD

"I haven't had this much fun since flying choppers in 'Nam. Don't worry about getting shot by pirates... they never even got close to the ship with the crap they shoot and their lousy aim... reminds me of a drunken juicer door-gunner we picked up from the motor pool in Phu Bai!" -- Dan J. - Denver, CO

Come on board and bag your own clutch of genuine Somali pirates! But cabin space is limited so you need to respond quickly. Reserve your package before May 31st and get a great bonus - 100 rounds of free tracer ammo in the caliber of your choice. So sign up for the Ultimate Somali Coast Adventure Cruise now!

[James Hutton]

It brings to mind the picture of Capt. Walker posed with his shipmate. “I pity the fool” who attempts to board his vessel!

[Peter A. Mello]

Jamie,
How do you keep your Bud cold in the the engine room?

[Matt Twomey '79]

Hey Guys: Just to inform you of an interesting development. Some of the old guys up in Castine who are very well connected have been banging out a business plan to run security personnel out on pilot boats to board merchant vessels for the transit from the DiJiboiti area out to maybe Salala, Oman, and on the eastern side from Mascat (please relax regarding the numerous spellings on all of our charts, I've given up and go phonetically) down to the Seyshelles. Interesting write up seems to be gathering shipping co., Insurance, union, and now even some DoD support for the idea. They have some Middle Eastern backing too, ever since the taking of the SIRIUS STAR. Up until a few months ago, no one really wanted to have to deal with Security (read weapons) in the Merchant fleet. It has been kind of cool to see so many different types of people thinking "out loud" to respond to piracy. Sail Safe and be Ready! Matt

[James Hutton]

Sumbtch boys, what you talkn' 'bout? I wreck'n my English's just fine. Ya all is a bunch of Yankees anyway. Worst yet, ya all can’t find ya way down to the engine room; been up in dat dere wheel house too long. Scuse me, I'm fixen to go out get me some jambalaya and a Bud for lunch.

[Robert C. Beauregard]

I'm sure Jamie got a great education at Maine, but if you work in LA (Lower Alabama) or the vicinity too long it's going to have it's affect on you. :)

[Peter A. Mello]

Umm, Jamie. It's "critical" not "criticle." Maybe their English and Math classes are better at KP and that's why those guys are running companies instead of ships? (Just kidding! ;-)