The family

13 July 2013

Update by Peter Tavel:
“We have been sailing for more than three weeks now and I have been thinking all the time how we actually live here. Work, food, rest and sleep. Around us is just the Indian Ocean, the ship or the people on board. This group of people could be compared to an organism that develops day after day and live a life on its own.
The most important persons are Terry, our captain, our deputy captain Frianko, our chef Wouter and 4 seamen: Jana, Ben, Jan and David, who is also our medic. All members of the crew are physically attractive people in very good shape and with strong muscles. What they sometimes do during work are kind of acrobatic stunts like circus performers. You normally have to pay when you want to see an acrobatic show. It is no problem for them to climb the highest mast at big waves when the mast blip up over 10 meters.
They take safety belts and go up to tie up sails without any fuss while sitting on the mast. Changing sails is often done in strong winds and sometimes it is quite a challenge to remain in one place even on board but they manage to go up to the mast without any problem and do what necessary have to be done. During our life on board I admire these performances and the longer we are together the more I respect them. They do not show off or take a risk needlessly and still they surprise me with something new. I can feel their energy and strength even in our communication. They are always in a good mood, laughing and cheer us up.
We all have a big respect for the captain Terry. He does not speak about useless things, just about important ones and does not like when someone speak about useless things either. He and Frianko plan our voyage and make decisions about which no one doubts. Wouter does not talk much and when he cooks, he does not like people around. “He gets on very well with our stomachs and tastes”. I think we cannot complain, his cooking is great. Jana is an extraordinary combination of physical skills which we could compare with any man but still above all she is a woman how a woman should be. You can find David working hard and quietly without unnecessary words. You can find Jan and Ben by their hearty laughter, running around, laughing, jumping. Where a bad mood is, send them there and the bad mood will be gone.
The stable crew is a big support to the rest of us – participants. We can completely rely on them. I think we all together make a very good team. After weeks of living together everyone has its own place and role in our group. Our initial anxiety to talk to each other, insecurity while sitting around the table dissapeared. There is no rivalry, competition between us but cooperation and willingness to help one another.
Our life reminds me of my life in a monastery: a collective life and work, where a person is surrounded by people who did not choose on his own, but it is the only thing he has now.
Once I said: “Look around, it is just water and nothing than water and water.” Someone answered: “But look, there are people around as well.” Yes, it is kind of a microcosm that we have created. I’m very lucky to have just nice people around. When we sit in front of the television, it reminds me of a family. Are we missing our loved ones at home? We talk about it from time to time. For myself I can say that I think of my close relatives very often and I will respect them more, thanks to this voyage.”