Oosterchelde – The Crew

 

Gerban the Captain
Gerban was what a captain should be.
Measured, focused, competent, detached from the crew and passengers, communicative, in command and friendly.
If all these things are a contradiction then that is what they must be.

Maarten – First Mate

Maarten the friendly, Maarten the mariner, Maarten was always there helping, allowing us and the crew to make mistakes and learn.

Arno – Electrical Engineer
There are some people who have an inner strength and presence
 

Fernardie – The Chef
The ships treasure, the glue that keeps us all together. In 40kts of gale Fernardie cooks and smiles, and we are satisfied.

Anthony – ABS ( Able bodied seaman)
Australian Dutch/ Dutch resident, family man, stand up comedian, rope splicer, and all round nice guy.

Peter – ABS

Able Bodied Seaman – That is an understatement. This guy is a gentle giant, agile, strong, friendly.
We all felt comfortable with him around.

Ben – ABS

Ben and Peter bounced off each other in their native Dutch much to my enjoyment. I imagined they were saying;

" You clean the toilets.’
countered by
"No! you clean the toilets."

The friendly banter in a foreign language is so comforting and understandable.

Ben was also I feel, a little deeper, quieter, more impassioned and would act with passion and committment.

The crew, the Dutch, were beyond accommodating and hospitable, they made us one of them.