The liars at the weather bureau are calling for a gentle 10 to 12 knots out of the South so you decide to head out alone for a little single-handling. Before you know it the wind has swung around out of the Northeast and is blowing steady at 25 knots with higher gusts, testing both you and your boat. You manage to get the main reefed just as a puff hits that seems to want to roll the boat over. Your heart starts pumping and you react instinctively to every swell of the water and every movement of the vessel. The sound of the wind howling through the rigging is deafening and the water cresting the bow of the boat washes over you as if it were trying to erase you from its surface. You taste the salt in your mouth and you wonder if the boat can handle it. Worse yet you know that the boat can handle it but it's you that might not be able to. You curse the fact that you didn't run your jack lines before departing and wonder if you can leave the helm long enough to grab your safety harness anyway. One side of you has had enough and the other side of you says, "bring it on because I can beat you, you bastard." It's a cacophony of sound and motion and action and when it's over you are drained. You know that you were lucky but you also know that a large part of your survival was based on the knowledge and skills that you have developed over years of dealing with similar situations. You bring your boat back to the marina where it's as calm as can be and no one on the docks knows what you have just been through. Only a few of them would understand if you did try to explain it, so you keep it to yourself. There's no need to try to explain it anyway. You made it back this time. That's really all there is. The next time might be just as exciting but it will be different, and hopefully you will make it back again. The conditions never stop changing so you never stop learning. That is a given. Anyone who thinks that they know it all will not make it back one day. Even those of us who realize that we are constantly learning might one day not make it back to port. Admit it or not, that is part of why we do what we do. It's the excitement of the lifestyle and the lure of the sea. It's modern day man testing himself. It's the explorer in all of us. It is who I am.

Bruce Myers ©1997

Bruce spent much of his youth either on boats or on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. He started writing at an early age and in his teens began combining his words to the music that he was composing on both the piano and the guitar. In his early 20's he set out on the road and spent a number of years traveling around the country writing songs and performing in any tavern or coffee house that would have him. The many out of the ordinary situations and characters that he encountered during those years give him an insight into life that few people possess. This unique combination of creativity and individualism is reflected in his songs which are sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes ambiguous and sometimes charged with emotion. The one constant that they all share is Bruce's distinctive view of the world and the obvious fact that they were all written from the heart.

When the time came to settle down Bruce returned to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. He founded two companies, "BRM (Boat Rock'n Music) Records" and "Heeled-Over publishing." Out of the more than 160 copyrighted songs that he has written it was only natural that a number of them would be influenced by his love of boating in general, sailing in particular, and basically just being out on the water. His debut CD entitled, "Stinkpot & Rags," exemplifies both his love of the water and his skills as a singer/songwriter. Many others are discovering his talents as well and in 1998, Bruce and his crew were the featured performing act in welcoming the sailboats of the, "Whitbread ‘Round the World Sailboat Race," to Baltimore's famous Inner Harbor. He also provided the entertainment at a press release party which was held to announce the event. The party featured such dignitaries as the Governor of Maryland and The Mayor of Baltimore City, as well as a host of other elected officials, business leaders and media people from around the world. He has been featured on the WMAR morning news program, "Wake Up Baltimore," in the "Baltimore Sun," Newspaper and many other smaller publications. In that same year he also had small roles in the John Waters' film, "Pecker," and the critically acclaimed television show, "Homicide, Life On The Streets."

Although Bruce now spends much of his time promoting his recording he still sails the Chesapeake, finding inspiration for new songs in every cove and creek that he explores.

Since releasing his first CD, "Stinkpot & Rags," Bruce has expanded his cruising grounds and gained valuable off-shore experience. He has helped to deliver yachts from the Florida Keys to Martha's Vineyard and many points in between. He also served as the mate on a privately owned 70' yacht and, along with the owner/operator, visited ports up and down the Eastern Seaboard. These opportunities allowed Bruce to experience the kind of cruising that most only dream of, hone his boating and navigational skills, and also spread his music to others who appreciate the lifestyle and who might not have heard it otherwise. His CD's are now standard equipment on many boats that are cruising between the Caribbean Islands and New England.

More important than any of that is the fact that Bruce's off-shore passages provide him with inspiration for many new songs and ideas and that is clearly apparent on his latest release. Boat Logic is filled with images of being underway and cruising to distant destinations, trying to find not only new locations to visit but also exploring the never ending quest to find one's true self. Bruce continues to prove himself to be a prolific songwriter as well as a talented musician and he is constantly being inspired to write new songs. Bruce also continues to sail the Chesapeake Bay when time allows on his own boat, "Getting There," and welcomes anyone who sees him out there give him a hail.