Bis dahin

Yes, on Monday we worked from 9 to 9, not everyone, but a large part. How does that happen?
In the harbor, a ship and its crew always spread out a bit, especially when it has been there for about three weeks.
Well, now the departure date is actually set for Thursday. So tomorrow.
On Thursday, we will cross the big pond. For that, the whole ship had to be cleared and made seaworthy. So store everything so that it doesn't fly around too much when there are waves.
So, we are only leaving on Thursday, not Tuesday.
Well, on Tuesday, a film crew came who wanted to take shots of the Avontuur while sailing. They want to make a commercial out of it. So the ship had to be seaworthy already on Tuesday.
The more attention the project gets, the better. Now, my problem was that I worked for a long time, and I also had a shift from 11-2 a.m. And on Tuesday, we had to get up at five in the morning because the film crew wanted scenes of a ship at dawn. With only three hours of sleep, I was pretty exhausted, and in that state, I would feel nauseous very quickly on board.
That was not so nice, my body hit the brakes. It's also super uncomfortable, just the end.

Sunday was so pleasant. We went to Teide, the volcano on Tenerife. We saw the flora of the island. Afterwards, we went to a local restaurant where there were lots of tapas. And then we rounded it off with a good saltwater rinsing, going swimming at a black sand beach.
Driving on serpentine roads takes forever.
Well, we filled our one day off pretty well.

Well, why now a film crew.
For that, I want to talk about the project and the company I'm currently working for as a shipmate.
In essence, I work on a sail freighter. This ship transports goods like container ships by water. Mostly from the Caribbean to Europe. On a much smaller scale and using wind power. Just like it used to be some time ago.
The company Timbercoast provides a good starting point for sustainable projects with their transport alternative. For example, collective coffee plantations or other eco-idealists.
Now, the Corona pandemic has rather harmed the project, especially because ports were also closed during the lockdowns. This is not the first time a film crew has taken shots. The company Timbercoast tries to make use of as many channels as possible, but then this has to happen regularly as well.
For example, shipmate Chris is also hired to take many photos of our work and the crew and send them to the PR department.

It's just a freak project. Competing with container ships is crazy. The transport cost of one kilo is 40 cents on a container ship. The transport cost of one kilo of coffee on the Avontuur is 4 euros. That's worlds apart.
Well, this project needs attention, and people like me, who work here because they like the project. And maybe who want to consider working on something like this and want to suck up. Hehe. But who knows. I can only say whether I want to and can work on a sailboat after the trip. Then I will have been through a lot and will know more about life on board.

Oh yes, the ship's position can be viewed on the website.

We're starting tomorrow, it has become even more abstract somehow. I can imagine even less how the whole thing will be. Three weeks on water. With people I've only known for a week.

What will happen in the world during that time. The Captain gave a good example. In spring 2020, the Avontuur sailed from Tenerife to the Caribbean, the same tour I'm doing now. At that time, the first Corona infections were reported when they departed. The situation seemed 'relaxed'. When the crew arrived in the Caribbean after three weeks, most of the nations were in lockdown, and the first ports were closed. When people isolate themselves and then something like this happens.

I'm excited. It's going to be extreme. I will have a lot of time. I have a few books, like Siddhartha by Hesse or a collection of poems and short stories about the sea. I have podcasts, music, and radio plays.

But most importantly, I have a new notebook, and I will write a lot in it. Because I will think a lot during my free time. And then I will write. Maybe even cry.

That's something.

I'll get in touch when I'm across.