Galley Essentials with Amanda


The crew of “Zodiac” Brewery Cruise


I r e c ent ly


cha t t ed wi th Chris Wallace who sails aboard the schooner Zodiac as first mate, along with her husband Jeff the ship’s carpenter and their kids who are deck hands. Chris has also lent a hand as cook and gave the following insight to life aboard. The schooner Zodiac is a 127’


passenger-charter vessel that cruises the waters of Puget Sound, San Juans and the Gulf Islands. From her home port of Bellingham, she cruises continuously from mid April until early November offering day sails, evening dinner sails and host to weddings, ceremonies, corporate team-building cruises and location sites for film and advertising sets, with a portion of her season devoted to youth education at-sea programs. Passengers come from all over North America, especially for the unique cruises such as the “PNW Seafood and Wine Excursion”, the “San Juan Island Micro-brewery Cruise” and the springtime “Lighthouse Tour Cruise”. Zodiac’s history dates


back to 1924, when she was built in E. Boothesbay, Maine. Designed by William Hand Jr and commissioned as a birthday gift from one of the Johnson & Johnson heirs to the brother, she spent her first decade as a private yacht. In 1928 she was entered the King’s Cup trans-Atlantic race finishing in fourth place. After the Depression she was purchased by the California Bar Pilot’s Association, re- named The California and put into hard service. For almost forty years she worked as a 48° NORTH, MAY 2011 PAGE 48


authenticity was the key and one wo u l d n e v e r realize that the side-buffet adjacent to the galley table is the only original piece of Johnson- era furnishing. In keeping with her vintage, two ornate leaded glass cabinets adorn the galley; purchased


The Schooner “Zodiac” by Amanda Swan Neal


bar pilot riding at anchor with a crew of pilots; transferring them aboard ships inbound to San Francisco. In the 1970’s she was purchased by The Vessel Zodiac Corporation who began her restoration. Today Zodiac looks as she did on


her original launch. Her deck and hull above the waterline have been rebuilt and hundreds of square feet gleam with bright-work along with the brass. Below decks, mahogany paneling lends an elegant touch to salon and galley and the wood floors shine. During her restoration


Deadliest Catch “San Juan” style.


from a local bank that went out of business. The galley table’s hanging lamps look very period but were actually in a Denny’s restaurant! The main salon fir flooring was laid last season and came out of a century-old Seattle apartment. Besides the Captain, the only other


paid position is the cook. Typical days begin at 5:00 am for breakfast preparation and end past 9:00 pm after the dishes are stowed. Often guests are invited to help set the buffet, peel vegetables or wash dishes, but the cook generally works alone. The buffet meals are hearty with an emphasis on fresh NW cuisine; crab caught on-deck and oysters from local farms. The cook also gets to lend a culinary hand during the winery cruises working with the on-board vintner-host to concoct a Winemakers dinner, and during the brewery tours the spent brewing grain is incorporated into sumptuous bread. The galley is spacious


containing two half-sized refers and a large pantry refer for the cook’s access. The freezer, built in the pantry wall, has the capacity for several weeks, whilst the walk-in pantry holds the canned and dry goods. Underneath the galley table bench seats six storage bins contain cans and paper


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