Polo's Guide to Ocean Living

Polo has been aboard for fourteen months now, and in that time he has developed opinions. Not suggestions. Opinions. Strongly held, consistently expressed, non-negotiable.

On sleeping: the forecabin berth is his. This was decided unilaterally on his third night aboard. Any attempt to renegotiate is met with the specific look he reserves for situations he considers beneath his dignity to argue.

On seabirds: they require monitoring. All of them. At all times. This is clearly his department and he takes it seriously. A gannet passing at three hundred metres is tracked from bow to stern with the focus of an air traffic controller.

On passages: fine. Long ones, short ones, rough ones. He found his sea legs in about forty minutes on the first sail and has never referred to the matter again. His attitude to a force six is the same as his attitude to a flat calm: watchful, unbothered, ready.

He's the best possible crew. He complains less than any human I've ever sailed with, eats whatever he's given, and maintains a cheerful disposition even at 3am in driving rain. He's also genuinely good company at anchor over a sundowner. I cannot recommend sailing with a dog enough.