| My wife is the First Mate of our trawler. I jokingly call | | | | variation; call it a backup . We rarely go without both |
| her the Admiral because any pick by me, the Captain | | | | paper and electronic charts. |
| , can be overruled by her but we are usually a good | | | | When we arrive at our destination, she handles the |
| team and in harmony. | | | | anchor, allowing the Captain to set the hook at which |
| A vessel is a small city adrift. There are two electrical | | | | time she fastens the bridle. If we take our dingy |
| systems, both alternating and DC currents and | | | | ashore, the Skipper runs that the aforementioned as |
| maybe a wind and solar system on many yachts, a | | | | he does the mother ship and the First Mate again |
| waste system, hotel accommodations to rest the | | | | handles the lines. |
| crew, meal preparation systems (electrical or gas), | | | | It's just a lot easier on a 10' dingy than a 44' boat! |
| chilling systems (freezers and coolers), water | | | | When we are willing to leave our anchorage, she |
| systems for cleaning and meal preparation, | | | | again handles the lines, washes the chain and anchor |
| navigational systems to permit the yacht to move | | | | off and secures the pin. When we arrive back at our |
| about and even entertainment systems with movies | | | | dock, she again handles the lines when the Captain |
| and concerts. | | | | docks our pleasure boat right where she should be. |
| Yes, a vessel is a complicated matter. And operating | | | | I guess a way to look at it is the First mate is |
| a yacht is a group effort - it would be very | | | | actually the Captain's assistant. many women may |
| challenging for one individual to navigate and | | | | have a problem with that but my wife doesn't. We |
| everything else. | | | | know couples whose roles are transposed - |
| A First Mate's role is to do anything that the Skipper | | | | whatever works! |
| cannot, either determined by skills, liking, availability or | | | | An important role is to arrange meals and provision |
| all three. The First Mate's function is absolutely critical | | | | as small boats don't have chefs. We both do the |
| for safe and enjoyable cruising. | | | | actual shopping but my First Mate gets to arrange |
| As First Mate, my spouse stows everything down | | | | everything. She does love that piece too and loves |
| beneath when we are preparing to voyage, anything | | | | the shopping even more! We both savor meal |
| that can fall while we are moving. She also handles | | | | preparing - I am the grill-king and my bride is the |
| the lines when leaving the pier. | | | | galley slave, just kidding. She plans wholesome, |
| She makes certain to secure those lines once we are | | | | tasteful and simple meals as we don't want to spend |
| on the move. Our pleasure boat is always ship shape | | | | hours in the galley when there are islands to explore! |
| and clutter is NOT an choice. | | | | You can read some of our preferred recipes on the |
| When we are cruising to our destination, she is | | | | website. |
| tasked with interpreting standard charts I am | | | | In summary, the Skipper on our yacht is accountable |
| working the boat and navigating with the electronic | | | | for maintaining and operating the boat; the First Mate |
| plotter and radar. | | | | is tasked with providing a healthy living environment |
| Her role is to navigate and substantiate the chart's | | | | and for the good welfare and care of the crew. |
| for the me, the Skipper who's using the electronic | | | | |