Galley Essentials with Amanda

Amanda visiting with Charlie in “Cicero’s” galley

From Charlie Beasley aboard

“Cicero”...

When I last saw you, I was

about to depart Rarotonga for a tour of the Northern Cooks...... and both you and John expressed a few doubts about how easy it might be for me to take six locals, who had never sailed, on that kind of trip. I am happy to report that it was a great success; 2,000 miles and eight islands over five weeks and no one jumped ship, in fact they all loved it. I must admit it was a huge job to keep it all organized and safe with all the tough sailing and dodgy anchorages, but I enjoyed it thoroughly and learned a lot from the islander’s attitude of not stressing and it all will work out anyway! I then caught the top of a low and had

yet another fast downwinder to Tahiti where Mom & Dad met me. You would be forgiven, if you would doubt again my choice of crew; a 72 & 75 year old couple for a 4,000 mile southern ocean passage. But, after a tough beat down to Mangareva we had a great trip together. My Mom cooked and baked all the way, and we had a bottle of wine with dinner every night save for a very few. (We had one spell at 40° South running with the wind speed pegged at 50 knots and the biggest swell I've ever seen.) Our stay in Gambier and also Pitcairn were highlights for my parents and I was happy to be able to fulfill my Dad’s long-held dream to land ashore in one of the Pitcairner's longboats. My Mom asked me what they speak among themselves and I said "Pickineese". On arrival here in Chile, my brother and his family met us and the second day we set off on eight days of racing with 45 other yachts through the islands down by Chiloe and back to Pto. Montt. It was all a bit too soon for me to really enjoy like I might have otherwise but my brother had it all set up, so...why not?! I am now trying get settled whilst looking forward to a fly/sail trip with my brothers plane and “Cicero.”

Cheers, Charlie P.S. Here’s the recipe as promised.

48° NORTH, APRIL 2010 PAGE 44

seen Charlie with crew. We’d first met about 13 years ago, on an evening when it was my turn to make dinner, whilst John and I were conducting a sailing expedition north from Cape Horn through the labyrinth of Patagonia’s archipelagos. It had been three days since

Oceans of Time

by Amanda Swan Neal

Pineapple Upside-down Cake

I often whip up this exceptionally

good and super easy cake while dinner is finishing cooking, and serve it hot later. 1 large can pineapple rings 2 cups packed brown sugar 1 cup butter 4 eggs

1 cup flour 1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder Melt butter in an iron skillet. Cover

with brown sugar, DO NOT STIR!! Place pineapple slices on top. Beat eggs, stir in flour, sugar, baking powder. Pour batter over pineapple. Bake in a moderate oven ½ to 1 hour. Check when done. Place a plate over skillet and flip it over, letting the cake drop onto the plate. The pineapple shows up surrounded by a sweet crusty topping.

In Rarotonga John and I had

wondered how Charlie would handle six locals aboard Cicero on an extensive sailing trip around the isolated outer islands. We’d even given him a copy of our Expedition Companion, which we use for orientation and teaching aboard Mahina Tiare, gone over the charts and anchorages plus handed over a few recipes. Perhaps we shouldn’t have had doubts as this was not the first time we’d

our last passing contact with civilization; a radio exchange with a remote lighthouse to give the required identification

information so when we sighted the distinctive shape of a sail on the horizon excitement broke out onboard. John hailed the vessel on the VHF and a reply came stating they were the yacht Chiloe on their way south. In the elation of seeing another vessel John asked them to consider stopping to join us for Thai stir- fry dinner. “Yes” came the short reply. As Chiloe’s sails grew larger I wondered as to the extent of her crew so I called on the VHF asking how many to expect for dinner. “There are thirteen of us and a dog” came the reply. Yikes! Suddenly the thought of company became daunting with 20 mouths to feed. Five minutes later a providential crackle came across the radio. “This is the 32’ sloop Chiloe and the entire crew of myself and my friend Peter will be happy to join you for dinner and we’ll bring the beers!”

Thai Fried Rice with Shrimp

2 tablespoons olive oil ½ cup sliced green onions 1 carrot - julienned

1 cup snow peas or ¼ cup frozen peas 3 cups cooked jasmine rice - cold 1 teaspoon sugar

*4 teaspoons minced seeded jalapeño *1½ teaspoons minced garlic *2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce *2 tablespoons soy sauce 1½ cups cooked shrimp, diced cooked pork for chicken 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96