Sadiqi: The Beer Chronicles

Sadiqi has three inanimate companions onboard – the bears. That is other than the named: Windvane (Smithy), autopilot (Ken), anchor (Roxy) and cruising spinnaker (Big Bertha).

The Bears

Ted.E.Bear - stoic and well travelled. Originally he was found as a stowaway on Sadiqi back in October 1987. During an ocean race the bear appeared to fall out of one of the crew's sleeping bag. When questioned as to why the crew member, being an adult, should bring his teddy bear onboard a series of denials of biblical proportions ensued. The insensitive skipper and rest of the crew, of course, believed not a word. The hard evidence was lying on the sole in the form of a small yellow teddy bear. To this day the crew member denies having brought his bear onboard. Excuses that the bear belonged to a friend of one of his sons did not wash.

Subsequently the bear found favour on the boat and was placed atop the barometer where he sits today. The bear became the boats mascot and has been witness to much adventure, entertainment and merriment. If only the bear could talk, which thank goodness he can't having been sworn to silence. What is said on the boat stays on the boat.

Ted.E.Bear has a somewhat startled appearance: probably psychological due to the rejection from his first owner, having suffered the indignity of being dressed up to attend a party on the boat or having sat on a barometer for too long.

In the mid 90s the bear was borrowed to accompany Belinda, an aspiring young Optimist sailor who successfully competed in events in far off places like Chile, Singapore, Japan and the Mediterranean etc. The bear acted as a good chaperone. It was with some reluctance that the bear was returned to Sadiqi in 2010 prior to departing from Australian waters.

On long voyages in the absence of people the skipper confesses that he has been known to have the odd animated discussion with Ted.E.Bear. Fortunately, he remains impassive throughout especially when the subject is politics. If the eyes could roll I'm sure they would.

Ted-E-Bear

The Beer Bears

Sue and Rob bear, otherwise known as the Beer Bears joined the boat in 2010

Due to their behaviour these bears have been expatriated to the fore cabin.

I have not been able to prove it, but I'm sure the alcohol consumption on the boat has increased since these two delinquent bears arrived. Alcohol seems to have gone missing. This, of course, could have something to do with the heat in the tropics.

During lengthy voyages I have thought I may have heard, from the fore cabin "Are we there yet?" followed by a titter.

This of course could be: a hallucination, sea sirens or my imagination.

The Beer Bears seem to emerge from the fore cabin shortly after arriving in a new country when a selection of new beers is brought on-board.

Thinking that the title "Beer Chronicles" was hardly likely to be original a google search was done, as one does. Well, in an effort to avoid plagiarising some of the more amusing links on the subject of beer will be referenced. There is even a book by the name. Oh well, the skipper will continue to search for an original thought.

If you have the time, something on occasion the skipper has too much of, some of these links will defiantly bring on a smile or two

Did Benjamin Franklin really say "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy"!

Wikipedia - Beer

Wikiquote - Beer

A Life without Mondays

Beer is Proof

Ministry of Rum

. . . . . and the list goes on . . . . .