Captain Doctor Uncle Bill

A few weeks ago, I attended a Limited Captain's License class. This means that I received sufficient training for me to be eligible to get a license from the state to carry passengers on a boat up to 5 miles from the coast of Catalina (thus the 'Limited' part of the title). The University suggested I take this class so that I will be able to take students in a boat, since undergrad students (since they pay tuition) are considered paying customers if we put them on a boat. At least that's my understanding of the situation, which may not be entirely correct.

Anyhoo, I passed the class with flying colors (93.3% on the final!) and I knew the knots (bowline, clove hitch, square knot, cleat tie). We learned to set off emergency flares and which life preservers needed to be aboard. In order to actually get the license, however, I need to have 60 days where I spend at least four hours in a position of responsibility on a boat. Now I don't know if you knew this, but I do bioinformatics. Not too much computer work needs to be done on a boat. So I'm now constantly looking for excuses to go on a boat.

Coincidentally, one arose yesterday. The island faculty (J, K and myself) went 'over town' for a non-existent faculty meeting (that's another story). I helped cast off, and acted as look-out on the way over, and Captain K let me drive the boat on the way back. Don't flinch, most of the trip was accomplished by an on-board navigation system, but I am happy to report that I did not collide with 1) the sailboat in the harbor, 2) Ship Rock, and 3) Bird Rock, and I did manage to hit the dock gently enough for it to be considered docking (barely). And I helped moor the boat afterwards.

I was very proud of myself (naturally), and thus I have decided that my nieces and nephews must now call me Captain Doctor Uncle Bill, instead of just Doctor Uncle Bill.

Speaking of nieces and nephews, congratulations to the Nokomis Boys Baskteball team for being runners-up in the Illinois Class 1A State Championship, and especially Coach Steve (my brother-in-law) and his son Wade, a senior and co-captain on the team.

P.S. Go Duke.