Interview with Neil Brooker

Interview by Scoop MacPhee, intrepid reporter for the Big Wind

Scoop caught up with Neil Brooker who will crew on Sassie Lassie on the longs sail from Bermuda to Cromarty.  He was aboard RFA Oakleaf, a tanker somewhere off the coast of a foreign country – England.

Scoop:  Neil,  you seem to have very nice accommodation on this ship.

Neil:  Actually, this is the Captain’s cabin but he went ashore back in Portsmouth and I arranged for him to miss the ship’s sailing.  I just moved in until he catches up.

Scoop:  You’re looking forward to sailing with your mates on Sassie Lassie?

Neil:  $@#&$ right.  Anything would be better than this $£&%@# rust bucket.

Scoop:  And what was it that lead to your having to join the boat in Bermuda rather than Miami?

Neil:  A slight difference of opinion between me and the U.S. Immigration Service regarding my getting an entry visa.  A bureaucratic mix-up.

Scoop:  Have you ever been seasick, Neil?

Neil:   Only when I drank too much. 

Scoop:   So, you shouldn’t get seasick on this voyage, eh?

Neil:   Hope not.  I haven’t had a drink since October.  This is going to be the strangest voyage any of us will ever be on.  No beer or booze? 

Scoop:  Has there ever been a boat cross the Atlantic without any beer or booze on board?

Neil:   None that I ever heard of.  This may be one for the Guinness Book of Records.  Hey, speaking of Guinness – I don’t suppose you have one with you do you?

Scoop:  No, sorry about that.  Any doubts about any of the crew on Sassie Lassie, Neil?

Neil:  No.  Fortunately, Alex gets off when I get on.  It’ll be strange talking for six weeks with George and Bill sober the whole time..

Scoop: Thanks, Neil.  Hey I hear someone swearing out on deck.

Neil:  That’ll be the Captain.  I think you and I had better move down a deck or two.