Making a cup of tea

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by Mike Jefferson
July 6, 2000 on Foxx Fyre 27:00 N Lat. 149:55 W Long.

Making a cup of tea in a boat under twin jibs in fresh tradewinds conditions is an interesting experience. The first thing you have to realize is that there are no horizontal surfaces. The boat is rolling 30 degrees to port and starboard, with a period of several seconds. Intermittently, it will take off on a big wave, surf for a few seconds, then lie over on its side and turn 60 degrees to the original course. The autopilot whines in protest as we pull a few G's in a big turn back onto course, and then another turn to correct for the oversteer of the first turn. So as the boat heaves, yaws, rolls, pitches, and fishtails it's way toward Hanaleii, you stand there with a tea cup in your hand and visions of a nice cup of tea in your mind.

How to get it- that's the problem. Tea is pretty simple. A cup of very hot water, a tea bag, a little sugar, and a place to sit and drink it. Ok- the first thing you have to do is get some hot water. Well, you take the pot and put some water in it. Then you mop up the cup of water you spilled as the boat lurched and sent you reeling across the cabin, and secure yourself into the galley with a strap. You refil the pot, and secure it to the stove with clamps. You then ignite the stove and while the water heats, you get out the tea mug. This is a mug with a snap-on top, and a tiny drinking hole. You put in the tea bag, and some sugar, and then put it somewhere it will not immediately depart from on a trip into the bilge. Ha, ha,ha....

When the kettle starts to whistle the fun really starts. The object is to get the water in the mug, not on you, and keeping the mug out of the bilge and out of your t shirt. You lock the mug in position (never hold it!!), and time the roll of the boat. Like Michael Jordan, you try to float in space while you pour. At the right instant you start to pour. The first few ounces of boiling water go right into the mug, and then, like the bullets from the bad guys' machine gun when they shoot him, the stream of water starts to move across the counter top. As you grit your teeth and grunt, the boat starts a big fishtail, and the water pours everywhere but the cup. You desperately try to correct, but the boat then fishtails the other way, and water pours onto the other side of the mug. With a little luck, some practice, and good timing you can get the mug about 3/4 full. You then have to secure the kettle, all the while trying to keep the contents in the mug and the mug on the counter top. You then have to remove the tea bag and snap on the top. In principle, a simple operation, but often 3 or more hands are needed. You can then retire to the secret spot where you can curl up with one foot on the side of the cabin, and the other foot on the roof and brace yourself long enough to drink the tea.

It is a process which makes one treasure things that at home we take for granted.

Mike Jefferson, Foxx Fyre Transpac 2000

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