The Captain's Inspection

A ship's captain inspected his vessel every morning before sailing.

Hull, sails, ropes, provisions, crew. Every day, the same inspection.

"Tedious," his first mate said.

"The sea is not tedious. The sea will find every weakness we ignore."

One morning, the inspection found a cracked mast. They repaired it in port.

Another captain, who inspected only before long voyages, discovered his cracked mast mid-ocean.