Episode #2: (Getting to know) the Patches Crew

How can you fully feel and understand my story if you don’t know who I was traveling with?

Well, the first few days I didn’t really know who I was traveling with, either. Living with me on this boat, there were 4 Latin American guys speaking various dialects of Spanish and one north American girl from Denver.  Since we weren’t really exchanging small or big talk day 1 -4, each and one of us coping with the water world separately, it felt like we didn’t personally meet until day 5 and 6.

And then, on deck in the sunshine, it was all like “Hey cool, you here too? Wow, I didn’t see you there, too busy trying to sleep/steer a boat/not vomit etc.”

You know, I am naturally a flight animal. At a large dinner table, I sit at the end of the table, facing the door. The exit must be in my vision, it’s a subconscious thing. So, sharing approximately 30 sqm with 5 strangers on a very large and incredibly deep ocean is not my first idea of happiness. But that’s what made this whole experience so much more exciting as it was not only be mentally, physically and hygienically challenging but also locked us up, all together, thousands of miles away from a way to get away.

But you know, these guys are fantastic.We did not have a single fight! There was not one mean word said and I mean, imagine that! 2/3 of us were total rookies! I credit at least 85% of this calm, safe and respectful behavior on board to you, Marc. Your leadership was truly exceptional, you were composed and in charge without ever getting grumpy or impatient. Thank you.

And thank you Maureen, Tom, Eloy and Isaac for being such a good team.

So, here they are, the wild sailors of Patches:

MAUREEN

When I got to the training session on the 27th of July, I learned that I would probably be the only girl on Patches. Don’t get me wrong, I really like guys, I have traveled months with really good friends and boyfriends. When it comes to entering unknown lands, I really like girls. Because it is possible being physically close to them without it all getting weird. And if you need to cry or get really hormonal…, well, you get the picture. Maureen, my fellow Ocean Clean Up volunteer who was then assigned to Patches, was a fantastic travel buddy, even tho we left out the physical part as well as the crying. Always in a good mood, that song she sang with her Banjolele is still in my head…

Missy, I admired you for being so tough when you got seasick and I am still sorry for not being able to help you.

MARC (EL CAPI)

Marc is very Mexican and doesn’t look like it. His ancestors are from Serbia and Hungary. I had the honor of sharing half of my shift with him 3 times a day. Depending on the hour and weather, we would talk, eat chocolate, doze, laugh. Sometimes we would not speak for hours. And that was fine. City people find it hard not to speak sometimes, we feel we need to. With Marc, it was easy not to speak. And when we spoke, I liked to listen to this man. His life is very different from mine, Marc has been living on a boat with his wife Daniela and 2,5 (one is coming) kids for 11 years. He loves nature and the water, and he has traveled the entire world for years, sailing its many oceans. That made him someone unbelievably credible, authentic, unfussy. Sometimes, when I look at people it’s hard to see their edges clearly, it’s like their souls are slightly blurry, undefined. Marc’s outline is razor sharp.

TOM

Tom and I were sharing my other half of the 3 hour shift. When I first met him I was kinda glad he spoke German (being half Austrian). So we would sit on our shared time during shifts and talk about life, family and crazy stuff. The always barefoot man in his yellow suit is a big wave surfer and used to race down the coast roads of his home town Lima on a skateboard. While doing a handstand. Such a gentle soul, we spoke about business and integrity and Asados with Coalitio de Quadril on Montevideo terraces and I was very thankful for his encouragement when the sea got really rough and I was scared shitless and it was dark and he said “nothing can happen to you.” Maybe you don’t know it, but you being there made those moments a lot easier, Tom. Thank you.

ELOY

The first few days I didn’t really know what was going on with him. I could see him lie there opposite of my bunk twisting and turning in agony and even tho I felt like shit, he sure looked a whole lot shitter. I was amazed at how this Argentinian man (living in Mexico) rose like Phoenix from the ashes on day 4, threw out that line and caught us a beautiful fresh Dorada. I will always remember the deliciousness of your Ceviche and that perfect timing for Led Zeppelin on your iPod.

ISAAC

I referred to Issac in my head as the “gentle giant” in my head. Our communications were patchy and I hope I never pulled his foot too hard when waking him up for his shift. (he was the one after me) Voy a escribir este bit en español porque quiero que sea capaz de leerlo , Isaac . Lo siento, no hice más esfuerzo de hablar español. Voy a estudiar un poco más y la próxima vez que nos veamos será mucho mejor.