Sailing on a tall ship is an experi- ence most people seldom have the opportunity to do.These grand vessels hold a particular fascination, evoking thoughts of sea battles and pirates, whale hunting, and historic voyages. They reek of adventure, as well as a good bit of mystery and curiosity. What’s it like to be aboard a tall ship and part of the crew? This is what happens. When boarding, you note that it is kept in pristine condition, evidence of many hours of the crew’s mainte- nance work. You can only bring what you absolutely need for a voyage. Usual- ly 17 or 18 people, both men and women, live closely together in a living space of 106 feet long and 26 feet wide for extended periods.The permanent crew of 11 lives in the “fo’c’s’le” (forecastle— forward portion of the boat).The six guest crew get small cabins in the middle, and the aft-cabin (the back of the boat) is the captain’s and other officers’ quarters. In such a tight space, privacy rules and consider- ations are strictly observed. The crew has very little storage space — either an upper or lower bunk, a couple small shelves, and a hanging hook or two.That’s it.The salon, in the mid-section of the boat, shares space with the guest crew bunks and consists of a long table where the crew eats and relaxes. In a small compact kitchen, food is prepared and stored by the cook. Power is generated by batteries, so great care is taken to conserve electricity. Two toilets are on board, with a small shower and sink in one of them. You must learn how to pump out the
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SPRING 2022
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