checking performance
Extra Question: Did you enjoy having a Ship’s Parrot? What was good (or bad!) about it?
It was funny, mainly because he always have the answers. As Gilberto used to say: “Ask the Parrot”.
checking charts and routing…
YES! RC had always an aswer and was always right!
Gilles and RC, the Ship’s Parrot, become acquainted!
I enjoyed using it as a ceremonial punchbag before venturing up in the graveyard watch.
Ship’s Parrot, RC, and crew – The Solent
RC the parrot was very welcome onboard, we talked a lot during the nights. RC would just turn up here and there without warning though, I suppose checking on things.
taking a turn as grinder
RC the Parrot was a great stress reliever. I would talk to RC when the crew were getting on my nerves!!! Sadly for the parrot, it also became the ‘blame hound’ …. ‘someone’ tended to fart quite a lot and the poor parrot got the blame …
RC also was pretty knowledgeable …. whenever we needed the answer to a question, we ‘asked the parrot’ ….. the source of much amusement…. especially at 3am, asking Gilberto ‘Are you asleep?’ and he’d reply ‘I danno, ask de parrot’ 🙂
RC would be moved around the boat a lot … inside when it was damp, outside swinging from the sprayhood when it was nice 🙂 I’m surprised his feathers didn’t fade in the sunlight 🙂
Sophie cooking at an angle – parrot “flying”
Ask the Parrot ….. Became the watchword for many questions, especially if they concerned the reliability of weather forecasts. So, yes, the Parrot was a source of comic relief and a welcome addition to the crew 🙂
Watching over Chaos (Tony)
by Joanne / RainbowChaser (jsbc007@aol.com)
SOL Fastnet campaign 