Salty Dog

Perhaps the oldest and purest definition that still holds true today.
One Coffee mug
Two thirds Cranberry or Grapefruit juice

One thirds Vodka or Rum
One pinch of salt from the handrails of any ocean going vessel

Any old sailor will tell you this. Traditions at sea are very very hard to kill and this one is beloved by sailors for many generations.

The captain fixes two salty dogs every morning, one for him and the first man he sees. A real Seaman

The Sickness

This is also an old or possibly ancient nautical term used to describe the condition in which a sailor falls in love with ocean going life or even the sea itself. One with this condition may spend several years upon the waters with only brief time ashore.

I can't believe Hugh turned 62 today and he already has 37 years seatime(1 year seatime =365 days at sea) he must have been young when he got the sickness.