June 12, 2010

By Lisa Ballard

Even though it is a favorite part of sailing the ocean, it never ceases to surprise how the most basic parts of daily life become incredibly important. Things we are hardly conscious of take on greater significance, often becoming the most important parts of our day. Simple tasks we perform easily every day require consideration, forethought, and infinitely more preparation and concentration.

The best example is sustenance. Instead of going grocery shopping, one plans and provisions for a voyage, even for a day-sail. If you've forgotten something you can't make a quick run back to the store or pick up take-out.

Working the boat takes energy, so feeding the crew – and keeping up morale – is vital. That is why a good steward is critical to the functioning of any boat. Fortunately, SEA always has great stewards. Ours, Lil, is feeding us well. Special touches like fresh whipped cream for the berries at breakfast is a treat that gets the crew excited to go on deck. Her galley is well-organized. With very limited space, it has to be.

The routines developed by SEA over the years go a long way toward making everything run smoothly and efficiently. Lil and the assistant steward, assigned each day from among the volunteers, give thoughtful preparation to each meal and work hard to keep the crew of 33 healthy and energized.

Even if it is hard work in a confined, hot space, I'm looking forward to working with Lil, too. I hope to turn one of my favorite dishes from home into dinner for my crewmates. My turn as dishwasher, however, while not as eagerly anticipated, is still an important contribution. We all count on one another to keep ourselves healthy. That's another thing I love about sailing. We each are forced to depend on the rest of those aboard.