A THUNDER clap makes me open my eyes.
The sound of squawling winds soon follows.
The lightest of raindrops intermittently kiss my face and left arm - the only parts of my body that aren't covered by a towel or blanket.
When unattended momentarily by the wonderful Marietta, my body gently rocks with the big swell.
Always in the background, the tinkle of dangling shells on a wall hanging and the flap of a tarpaulin "wall" against the metal of the hut.
This must go down as the most bizarre setting for a massage.
Marietta assures me that in this area near the stern of the Sundeck on Star Clipper is normally a very peaceful, warm place.
But today, her therapeutic rubbing, rolling and rotating comes with extra concern that I am warm enough and handling the trying conditions.
The happy Filipino has been with the Star Clippers Cruises company since 1997, coming to Star Clipper after many years on the Star Flyer. She obviously loves her work and sea-faring office and isn't considering retirement any time soon.
And with a day like today when bookings keep on coming due to the inclement weather, that's something her clients are very grateful for.
We've had to bypass our planned port of Corfu, but like any day at sea, we have plenty to keep us amused - from onboard activities such as learning knot-tying, to joining the photo tender for picture-perfect ship memories, to board games in the Piano Bar, to climbing the mast, lying in the boom net or helping to hoist the sails.
Catching up on three months of sleep is highly recommended, too ...
Lesson of the day: It's true: the journey is more important than the destination.
* The writer was cruising on a media package with Star Clippers Cruises.
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