I started work on May 2nd, getting the boat ready and cleaned for the owner's arrival and the trip north.  Captain D (sort of interim captain overseeing work being done on the boat) drove me down and that's when I saw my full list of duties.  That's when I started getting nervous.  Yes, the boat is only 71'.  Yes, there'll only be the two owners aboard.  However, I distinctly remember the interview over the phone with the owner.

"Who are the other crew?"

"It's just you"

"And who's responsible for the cooking?"

"Oh, my wife does the cooking, and you'd be in charge of the breakfast, you're ok with eggs and such?"

Looking at the list I see that I've signed up for stewardess (dept of the interior), deckhand (dept of the exterior), engineer assistant (dept maintenance and repair), and first mate (dept of navigation and assistance to captain). My duties include :

• Putting the flag out in the morning;
• getting breakfast out for me, Mr, and Mrs.;
• cleaning the galley from top to bottom (meal dishes, counters, stove top, fridge, floors) as usual after meals;
• cleaning the heads;
• making the beds;
• throwing out the trash (food trash will get thrown into the ocean);
• dusting and vacuuming every other day (this includes the ceiling and the walls);
• oiling the metal fixtures in the heads once a week(engineering department);
• pumping the heads (engineering department);
• cleaning the windows on the inside;
• Coke to Mr at 10 am;
• Prepping for lunch;
• cleaning up the galley after lunch (same as the post breakfast clean up);
• hors d'oeuvres prep;
• cocktail service;
• turning down the beds, emptying the trash from the cabins again;
• straightening out the heads and cabins;
• prepping for dinner including getting out all the utensils needed for cooking;
• setting the table;
• collecting all the stray glasses;
• serving dinner and eating dinner with Mr. and Mrs. and guest;
• again washing the dishes and galley;
• covering up the flag;
• locking the pilot house door;
• closing the hatches;
• turning on the anchor & outside lights on if going out at night;
• locking the engine latch;
• closing the aft deck and slinging over hatch;
• (I think these last items would fall under the deckhand and first mate dept; filling out the daily log of day's travel - definitely first mate).

According to the notes, I should be done by 7:30 - 8:00pm with 1 hour break in the afternoon.  But wait there's more.  I'm supposed to also do the washdown of the boat.  This is cleaning the exterior of the boat from top to bottom too.  On those days, I'll just be doing a minimal of chores, the notes assure me, with a note about fish scales on the swim platform.  As Captain D walks by me reading the notes he comments, "I think that's a joke..."

No it's not a joke.  I've chamoised the easily accessible parts of the boat before, but I've never done a full wash down.

Later when I ask Captain D about generalities of doing a washdown he asks me if I can swim, advices me to wear a life jacket while doing the washdown. Remember the water is only about 45 degrees and hypothermia sets in very quickly so I'd better make sure I know how I need to get back on the boat should I fall in.

Now that really sets it in my mind that I'm not in Florida any more (and I don't think the owner's dog is Toto either).  This is another world and it is another adventure. I remind myself that although I am traveling, I'm not on vacation.  I will be working to get to do the traveling.  I have accepted the position and I’m here to do my best.  The compensation is that I am traveling and I will be seeing places few people see or have access to. I'm sure the Northwest will have just as exotic places and corners to reveal as the Caribbean.

In the end, it all worked out all right, I feel I’ve done a good job but I’m just not sure how the owners feel. I blame it on the bad matchmaking done placing me in a position (deck/stew/cook) I won’t have knowingly applied for.  I feel better hearing from captain and crew friends that given the circumstances, that I was the only crew and that I stayed for the duration of the season, I should be commended for a job well done.