I thought I might give you a little bit more insight into the boat and Bill’s living situation, which I have to say is a little shocking. The 70 foot long boat rides 9 feet below the water line. There are 20 (plus or minus) crew members per leg. (As an aside, there are 9 crew, plus the skipper and AQP circumnavigating) I thought that might be quite roomy but in examining it, I would not use that adjective.
This is the galley. I thought is was shockingly small. They will be eating out of stainless steel dog bowls — a little ingenious if you ask me – they will not tip over and the rubber rims keep them from sliding, but sliding on what – do you see a table in any of these pictures. Can you even imagine cooking dinner for 20 while they are tacking and healing over?? No thank you. All the crew does “mother duty” (i.e. cooking) at least once a week. Mother duty is Bill’s least favorite. Judging by the fact that Hannah made a point to tell me that Bill would be doing mother duty last up, I think she recognizes his skill in executing this task.
This is where the crew “hangs out” and eats. There is one on the other side of the boat as well. Notice that line hanging over the sitting area — that is where they can tether in while they are on the couch. What?!
This is Bill’s bunk. His is the bottom one. He not only sleeps here but stores most of his gear here in little cubbies and stashed under the bunk. He shares it (yes, shares it) with a very nice gentleman, Dan, from Greenville, NC. Dan is also circumnavigating. Thankfully Dan is also a surgeon. All the boats have a medical professional on board but not necessarily a highly skilled surgeon like Dan. We are very, very lucky. Bill assured me that all his stuff (and Dan’s) fits in here and the bunk is 7 feet long. The moment I saw this was exactly when I began to question Bill’s sanity.
This is Bill’s luggage for 11 months. Dan has a similar picture. Yikes!! (Don’t tell Bill or Dan I told you but they both did sneak little things on all week).
This is “The Wheels of Life.” Hannah (Skipper) thought it up and described it to her Dad who made this for the boat. I do not know how it works (neither did the crew until the day before they left) but she is very proud of it and is sure it will organize life well while they travel. After meeting and spending time with Hannah — I feel confident it will.
Here is the foul weather gear cubby. They each store their foul weather gear here on coat hangers with their designated number. Bill’s is 17. This is at the bottom of the ladder to the “down below.” You can almost smell the mildew from here . . .
And finally, what you are still wondering about. Where do they shower? Wash their clothes? The head? No pictures you ask — why? There is no real shower — that uses too much water. A “shower” is a biodegradable wipe. I did donate a solar shower to the boat. Let’s pray they use it. No real place to wash their clothes either — they claim they will be rinsing their undies and socks out on a regular basis but no one could really explain where. I am thinking bucket on deck. Is that really going to get those items clean? There are two heads, one on each side of the boat. They are soooo very tiny. Smaller than the head on our 32 foot sail boat. Luckily, neither are located in direct proximity to anyone’s bunk.