The Tales of Captain Robbie Mack - Up the Creek His attention wavered. The man was having an epileptic fit right in front of him, no-one else about. And yet his eyes were drawn to that damn chicken stoating around seasick drunk in the shower. Robbie Mack couldn't have been further from being a Captain at this point. He was just a lowly sea cadet. But this incident was just one of many experiences that took him from being a naïve wee lad from the Scottish village of Menstrie to becoming a successful and valued contributor in the global marine industry. Up the Creek takes the reader from 16-year old Robbie's earliest voyage around the world, seasick, homesick and bullied incessantly to attaining the seemingly impossible position of vessel Master. Sailing with shipping lines such as Cunard, P & O, Blue Funnel and many more, these tales will resonate with seafarers around the globe. But the reader doesn't need to be familiar with the marine industry to enjoy the characters in this first of several manuscripts. Like Tosh the schizophrenic cook or the gun-toting Angolan mercenaries. Or Irish Marie who knew how to keep hubby asleep and out of her hair. Sometimes dangerous, occasionally tragic and often hilarious, Robbie's adventures taught him some important life lessons along the way. As a chief engineer said to him, 'Och Captain, I have poot the fire oot but yae need to go easy on the thruster.' With such guidance, how could he fail?
About the Author: Born in post-war Stirling, Scotland in 1953 to a large miner's family, Roy WV Donaldson learnt a strong work ethic in his early years. Never an academic, he quickly realised he would need to expand his horizons to make himself a decent living. Working his way up from deck boy to ship's captain in the merchant navy, then into senior management, Roy embarked on a more than forty-year career in the global marine industry. Having sailed with some of the best known shipping lines, including P&O, Blue Funnel and British & Commonwealth, Roy moved into management at the first opportunity. Despite a long and distinguished career, and tantamount to his commercial value to his employers, he only ever worked for three companies: OIL, Seabulk and BUE Caspian/Topaz Energy & Marine, being promoted to senior levels as a result of remarkable success within each. Most experience was gained in the North Sea, West Africa and the Middle East. Alongside writing stories about his lifetime's experiences - sometimes dangerous, occasionally tragic but often hilarious - and sharing with the reader the colourful characters to be found in his adventures, Roy currently also manages to find time to provide a consultancy service to the marine industry. Recognised as a leader in his field, Roy writes articles for key shipping industry publications and he is a regular source of valuable operational, management and investment guidance to offshore operators, international oil companies, shipyards, vessel managers, financiers, brokers and global investors.