Local Sailor Tours the ‘Stad Amsterdam’ Ahead of 28-Day Ocean Passage
Bay Area sailor Pat Broderick took a tour of the ship that will be his home for around one month during its voyage from Honolulu to Tokyo. Pat and his wife Nancy visited the Stad Amsterdam at her current dock in San Francisco, ahead of its departure for Honolulu on March 24.
“Today gave me a chance to see the ship,” Pat wrote to his friends. “I was impressed. And I’m looking forward to this sail of a lifetime very much.”
Pat says the ship’s traditional look belies its modern capabilities. Among its equipment are the autopilot, large diesel engine, bow thruster, modern navigation instruments such as radar, and HF radio, much of it hidden behind mahogany panels.
“But there are towering masts, miles of standing and running rigging, and acres of sail,” he adds.
“We weren’t able to tour the cabins or ‘long room’ (which is a combination lounge and mess), but looking through the open hatches things looked comfortable.”
“Now I have to finish all the lists and see if everything I plan to take will fit into the large rolling duffle and backpack I will be taking. I’m going prepared for some chilling sailing in the North Pacific.”
The Stad Amsterdam’s website sells Pat’s leg of the voyage with a descriptive passage: “What could be more beautiful than standing lookout with nothing but the sea around you? It’s a unique experience to feel small and insignificant in the overwhelming nature. Gaze into the waves, enjoy the vast ocean, and perhaps spot a few whales, which are frequently seen in the Pacific Ocean.” Along the way, guest crew are taught “as much as possible” about sailing aboard a square-rigged ship.
We all know the idea of sailing is often filled with more romance than reality. But we’re sure Pat has a good idea of what he’s signed up for. For example, he’s already dialed in his wardrobe, as noted. He’ll also be involved with daily tasks to “truly experience life on board a sailing ship.”
We expect Pat is pretty excited about his upcoming voyage, and we wish him and the rest of the guests and regular crew a safe and adventure-filled voyage across the ocean. We look forward to hearing more!