Interview by Scoop MacPhee, intrepid reporter for the Big Wind.

We have been able to track down Alex Davidson, the fifth member of the Sassie Lassie crew who will sail the initial leg of the trans-Atlantic voyage in May from Miami to Bermuda.  We found and interviewed Alex in his condo overlooking the Inland Passage in Campbell River, B.C. on Vancouver Island.

Scoop:  Nice of you to talk to me Alex.
Alex:  You brought the six pack of Belhaven, didn’t you?

Scoop: Aye!   I see that you’re settled in nicely here in Canada, Alex.  Any particular reason why you chose to live in Campbell River?
Alex:    Nope!  Rains more than Cromarty, the beer is horrible but I’ve found a great bird.

Scoop: And what caused you to take on a voyage from Miami to Bermuda?
Alex:  Bermuda?  I thought we were going to Nassau!  Where the hell is Bermuda?

Scoop:  Heh! Heh!  Very droll, Alex.  Now tell me how you got onto this voyage?
Alex:  I was going to fly to Bermuda to meet the guys there and spend a few days with them.  But when It turned out that Neil Brooker couldn’t join the boat until Bermuda, Gwyn offered me the chance to sail the first leg.  Mind you, he made it clear that my function would be as cook and head cleaner as my sailing talents are somewhat limited compared to the other guys.  Like, a sextant is a complete mystery to me.  Thank God for GPS or I’d not find my way to the bog in a fog!

Scoop:  But you’ve sailed a great deal, haven’t you?
Alex:  I’ve crewed with both George and Bill since 1996 when we started the Cromarty Boat Club.  I feel I’ve learned a lot from both of these good sailors.  George let me provide and open all the beer on Fat Sam and Bill taught me a lot about motors on Wigeon and Tunnag.

Scoop:  So you know a lot about motors?
Alex:  No!  I learned that I’d never sail on a boat with just an outboard again and that diesels need constant attention, they smell funny and they can let you down as well.

Scoop:  So, you’ve not sailed with Gwyn before?
Alex:  Oh yes!  But only once or twice on Evening Light, probably going for a pint at Invergordon.  Gwyn’s a terrific sailor and, should we lose sail and motor, he can always paddle with his guitar while George sings Sweet Carolyn.

Scoop:   As cook, what sort of meals do you plan on serving on board Sassie Lassie?
Alex:  Well, I make a terrific spaghetti sauce, a darned good wiener schnitzel;  my Chicken Parisienne is quite tasty as is my Chicken Fried Rice and my Tuna Casserole has been mentioned in dispatches.  Fortunately, they all recovered nicely.  I think we’ll do quite well.  After I leave the boat in Bermuda, I don’t know what they’ll survive on.

Scoop:  I expect you’ll be sad to leave the boat in Bermuda?
Alex:  Like hell I will!  After 8 days with those three, I’ll be happy to get off the stinking boat. 

Scoop:  And what will you do after Sassie Lassie leaves for the rest of its trek?
Alex:  I’ll see a bit of Bermuda and then fly to Halifax where my lovely lady friend, Marja, will be waiting and we’ll tour the Maritimes for as long as we want.  That’s what retirement is all about.