In case you were not aware, the have been a lot mis-communications and some bad feeling aboard the ship during the last week (perhaps longer).

I have removed the 3 extremely long AWOLs today. These members have been warned many times about their repeated AWOLs. I have permitted far more leniency that is either required or even acceptable policy here, but they told me that they that had very good reasons, and that they would improve their record. That isn’t tolerable any longer as it is now affecting the rest of the players.

Two other members said that they were also leaving. Obviously, the three remaining players would not create a viable environment for the ship to continue. They have now rowed back from that decision, I think.

I myself plan to leave the club, but not until next year, and I would like to finish this present Sim and handover to a new Captain. So, no one should have any immediate concerns there. I have been a member of this club for 25 years and Captain of the Merrimack for 20 years. I deserve a break.

So, I want us to continue. We are short of an XO and a CE. However, Bob Spicer, who was my XO a long time ago, has agreed to take over that role. He will probably retire one of his existing characters.

This still leaves us very short handed, but you are experienced members who I know post regularly and with longer, well thought out replies that encourage good role playing. So with the permission of Jack D and Krys I think we should give it a go. Some less busy ships will be mothballed as the club gets revised and renewed, and hopefully we can pick up some new crew from those.

However, we do need to get along together. I don’t think that anyone here has been deliberately mean or was going after anyone. I can understand some frustration. It is difficult to read emotion in written down communication, there are no facial clues that are 90% of human communication. Can we cut each other some slack before we jump to conclusions and also have some tolerance. I think then the ship can continue.

• Dave