November 2010 - Seatrade

a reTurn To shipping,
For Four weeKs
Dear readers
Most people do not know who or what I am. That’s why I
would like to introduce myself before starting with the real
reason for writing this article.
March 1927, I came to this world as Ted, according to astrology
a fish (Pisces) that loves water. At the age of 11, I sailed along
the beaches of the Java Sea in an outrigger.
Short resume:
1947 midshipsman for the Royal Dutch Navy
1950 Naval Officer.
1977 retired; started sailing with ocean-going sailing yachts,
on the North Sea, Baltic Sea but also on the Atlantic,
Indian, and Pacific Oceans and last year on the
Blauwestad Lake with a small open sailing boat
2010 still sailing on quiet waters, because being an astrological
fish I still love water!
One day my friend Jan Westerbeek, happened to be my
tablemate during a Rotary meeting, and we were talking about
ships, oceans and navigation. And so we came to ‘what about
sailing on a freighter: you are still young, only 83, you could
manage the endurances on the ocean and you may notice the
differences in navigation and work on board between now
and 65 years ago’. A few phone calls and office visits later it
happened: On 15 February, I joined the Benguela Stream as a
passenger.
The gangway, rather steep, reminded me that this was a huge
ship compared to the ones I had been sailing on in the past.
Helping hands got my luggage on board and to my cabin
(originally the steward’s cabin).
48 Simply Seatrade November 2010
Compared to the cabins on board our navy ships, this one was
pure luxury! Soon I met the captain Adrianus van der Hoek
and because it was dinnertime, we went up to the officer’s
mess room opposite my cabin. After a day of travelling nine
hours from home to ship and a copious meal, I was glad to hit
the sack at midnight.
The next day I got permission to visit all the ins and outs of
the ship and so I did, carrying my camera along. Early in
the afternoon we set off for the huge “jump” over the ocean
bound for Martinique.
The weather forecast predicted stormy winds for the
coming days, but the English Channel was still very smooth.
Fortunately I was not seasick, I never am, but could only walk
or climb on hands and feet. The second day, however, while
sleeping in my cabin, I was thrown out of my bed and while
already three weeks at home, I still have a beautiful green and
blue spot on my hip where I hit the floor.
The days on the ocean gave me the opportunity to get to know
the crew. Of course, there was the captain, Adrianus van der
Hoek, we befriended and when in port, we went to the beach for
a swim and for diving. He was very helpful when I wanted to use
the computer to send an e-mail to my wife. Together it is a nice
bunch of hard working men on board the Benguela Stream.
Let’s go back to the Atlantic Ocean where the Benguela Stream
is still earning profits for Seatrade in spite of the bad weather
and poor me struggling to keep my feet down firmly on deck.
And then, Martinique, Thursday 25 February, 13:30 local time,
we moored alongside in Fort de France. The captain, sea
cadet James Rood and I, walked four miles to a nice diving