[出走地平線：大海]
Flattening The Curve: The Big Sea
我隨海成長，三歲懂得游泳，七至八歲已滑浪。每逢上學、午餐甚至放學時間，都會跟同學到海灘游水。如果衝浪得爽，甚至有些日子會逃學。
我在海邊認識第一位女友，所以大海跟女人於我是環環相扣：大海像女人，時隨風浪轉變，無限可能，熱情有活力，又深邃難測。
當我選擇離開澳洲，二話不說是隨海而去。我在貨輪找份差事，隨航從悉尼經非洲到歐洲。貨輪全長四百米，滿載層層集裝箱，由32位船員操作。
一開始，我由普通海員(OS)做起。
油漆船身，擦擦甲板。一日比一日享受奇妙無比的「大海」。
海員一般只受聘於特定時間。只要時辰到，新人便加入，舊人會上岸。
在杜拜，有五個印尼新海員加入。貨輪雖然靠岸，但其中兩位海員一上船便不停嘔吐，暈船浪。
「似乎不太好」水手長跟我說。
「他們明顯沒有出過海。」
五人中有兩個被分派到甲板工作，兩人操作機房，餘下一人做舵工﹐駕駛貨輪 。
我們在大海工作幾小時，船長召喚我到駕駛室。
那名印尼舵工站在方向盤前，害怕得顫抖。因為前方有一首巨輪朝我們方向駛來，我們要熟練地控制方向盤避免相撞。
我看著船長命令印尼舵工改變航向5度，避免跟對家相撞。
在國際水域，不論你來自何方都要接受英語下達的指令 。印尼船員聽到後說「是，長官﹗」但沒有任何舉動。
前方輪船越來迫近。船長再說「接著左舵10度﹗」
「是，長官﹗」印尼海員依然無動於衷。
情況越來越壞，巨輪在咫尺之間。
船長面向舵工說「你顯然之前沒做過，完全不明白任何一個該死的指令﹗」
「是，長官﹗」舵工再回應。船長旋即命令我「Chris，你來掌舵。看在老天份上，立刻左舵15度﹗﹗﹗」
「是，長官﹗」舵工跟我又一起應聲。我手執方向盤，花盡狗牛二虎之力扭左。
I grew up by the sea. I was swimming at the age of three and surfing around 7 or 8. Schoolmates and I would go to the beach before school, during lunch break and as soon as classes were over. If the surf was really good, we wouldn't even go to school on those days.
I met my first girlfriend by the sea. So the sea and women have always seem connected to me: the sea is like a woman: always changing with its winds and tides, endless, embracing, refreshing and deep.
So when I decided to leave Australia, of course the only way for me was by sea. I took a job on a Container Ship, sailing from Sydney to Europe via Africa. The ship was about 400 metres, piled high with containers and manned by a crew of 32.
I started as what is called an Ordinary Seaman ( OS ) .
Painting the hull, scrubbing the decks. Each day enjoying more and more the wonder of “the big sea”.
Seamen are contracted for a certain period so occasionally some new crew arrive when its time for others to go.
In Dubai, five new Indonesian crewmen joined the ship. We were docked, two of them started throwing up, seasick.
“This doesn't look very promising” the Bosun ( crew leader ) says to me.
“They have obviously never been to sea.”
Two of the five are supposed to work on deck. Two in the engine room. One as Quartermaster operating the wheel that drives the ship.
We have been at sea a couple of hours. The captain calls me to the bridge.
The Indonesian “quartermaster” is standing at the wheel, shaking with fear. There is another large ship heading our way. We have to manoeuvre to avoid crashing into it.
I watch as the captain orders the Indonesian guy in English to adjust course by five degrees to avoid the oncoming boat.
Inside international waters, no matter where you ship or you come from all orders are given in English. The guy replies “ Yes sir!” but does nothing .
The oncoming ship is getting closer. “Ten degrees Port is the next order.”
“Yes sir” the Indoneseian once again replies. But again nothing happens.
It’s no looking good. The ship is getting closer.
The captain turns to the “quartermaster and says ; “ You obviously have never done this before and you don’t understand a bloody word I am saying do you”.
“Yes sir” comes the reply. The captain turns to me “Take the wheel Chris. And for God’s turn us fifteen degrees Port right now!!!!”
“Yes sir!” both the guy and I reply. As I take over the wheel and turn it as hard Port as I can.
攝於拍攝電影《海洋天堂》（2010）
Photo was taken in shooting "Ocean Heaven" (2010)
