Cooking on a boat! Preparing a hot meal at sea in my 1970 Contessa 26 using one ring & fresh food

[@MRIRISHLAD]

Loved the cooking video, I would love to see more cooking videos on the boat even if it's not moving!

[@MRIRISHLAD]

I have subscribed! :) Not many people do cooking videos on boats like yours, so keep it up!

[@contessa26-jim]

!@MRIRISHLAD I certainly will, just as soon as there's a bit of daylight to use..

[@barb-9352]

Mmm! A nice curry ! I am going to sail my 1976 27ft. Catalina soon. I’m fixing it up and it’s all a learning process. I’m 71 and making a dream to sail happen slowly but surely. Love this cooking video!

[@contessa26-jim]

I hope you have as much fun as I'm having with this later life sailing lark!

[@hellohellohello6847]

Good luck girlie :) Phil, uk

[@jameslynch7826]

Top tip I found a plastic dogs bowl wider at the base makes an excellent plate , it won’t move about on a flat surface and worked well travelling at speed across country in my Challenger tank. The pump up diesel burners on Challenger are great little stoves.

[@contessa26-jim]

@@jameslynch7826 oh right that's a great idea 💡 yes the wider the base the better, I shall be looking out for one of those. If never thought of people cooking in a tank!

[@theyacht40]

Great vidoe thanks for sharing !!!

[@williambunting803]

Good one, Jim. So few people do cooking at see videos. Maybe it isn’t so attractive watching people throw up, but the sea state doesn’t affect you, and I enjoyed that very much. There has got to be a good measure of “comedy” in the galley at sea.

[@contessa26-jim]

Thanks William.. I too can get queasy, but it's usually on the first day and out after 2 or 3 days everything feels quite normal!

[@welshfreelance]

So that's how it's done! My galley is further back (under the bulge at the back of the cabin roof, so I can stand when cooking. But I see I am making too little use of onion and garlic ...

[@contessa26-jim]

Sounds like a good place to have the galley, it was in that position on my CO32.. you cant overdo garlic and onions!

[@mm5aho]

Great video. I also have a spirit stove on my Rival 32, and like cooking at sea. I just di it slowly, put things down where they won't slide away, one pot cooking is often best.

[@contessa26-jim]

Yeah, that's the way!

[@debbierennox931]

Fab video your veggie stew looked yummy ❤

[@contessa26-jim]

Thanks Debbie, it was yummy! Check out my other cooking movies on the channel!

[@miken7629]

My one go to meal is Lentils & Rice. Single Serving: Presoak 1/4 cup Lentils for 3 hours, put drained Lentils in a pot + 1/4 cup Long Grain Rice + salt + 1 cup water, boil 8 minutes, turn low for 20 minutes. Optional: add ham pieces, diced onion, tomato paste, other seasonings, whatever is available.

[@contessa26-jim]

Great recipe, I'll try it!

[@kencannuck]

Inspiring cooking James !

[@contessa26-jim]

Thanks Ken!

[@billycookson8804]

nice

[@stuartmclellan685]

Bish bash bosh. No messing. Lovely.

[@contessa26-jim]

@@stuartmclellan685 thank you Stuart!

[@GrenvilleMelonseedSkiff496]

Excellent video … brings back fond memories of sailing my Contessa 26 on Lake Champlain (south of our home in Montreal). Ta very much! ⛵️🙂

[@contessa26-jim]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@rb239rtr]

I had a Global knife like yours, broke the blade off when I smashed garlic with it.

[@contessa26-jim]

Ive had that knife for many years! At the time it was the bee's knees, although I now have better knives ashore, this one is fine for sailing..

[@EpoxyAndButylTape]

Wonderful demonstration of cooking on a Contessa in a rolly sea… or any boat for that matter!

[@contessa26-jim]

Thank you! So many people have told me they dont cook much on passage so I'm trying to inspire a little!

[@johnhumphries6751]

Thanks for that and I really agree about the need for a sharp knife. I mean a knife only has one job doesn't it, you wouldn't have a flat spoon or a fork with the prongs which didn't work (unless you had a 'spork', which manage to do all three things really badly and probably only stay in business as stocking filler Christmas presents from well meaning relatives). A chopping board and a small sharpening stone make life so much easier 🙂

[@contessa26-jim]

Absolutely right, sharp knife is one of the best pleasures in life!

[@dowser81]

Yep it’s always a workout creating those culinary classics whilst on passage lol

[@contessa26-jim]

gotta keep fit!

[@russellthomson5571]

Strangest cooking show ever? Reminds me of all those quotes about sailing - "Sailing is like being in prison but with a risk of drowning" - I think that was Oscar Wilde, sounds like something he would have said. Or that great one about racing - "Yacht racing is like standing in a cold shower tearing up 10 pound notes." Love it. Keep the cooking going.

[@contessa26-jim]

Thats all so true!And the latter comment is one of the things that keeps me away from the racing bug..

[@Nakailla]

Enjoyed it! Your so funny!!! Safe travels 😊

[@contessa26-jim]

Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoy it

[@paulwilliams3494]

A credit to you and your vessel sir, how none of that ended up decorating the inside of the boat I will never know !........Love it, Gordon Ramsay eat your heart out.....😎🤣🤣

[@contessa26-jim]

It has happened, on several occasions!😉

[@yepiratesworkshop7997]

Oh, the "fun" memories this video brought back. Wow! That's some tough cooking weather there. (To me, anyway.) You really had to fight for every morsel. I plan to do a LOT of cooking onboard when I go 'gunkholing' the Chesapeake and Delaware bays this summer, but I'm pretty sure that when things are bouncing around like in your video, it'll be sandwich weather or surplus military ration (MRE) for dinnertime.

[@mcallahan9060]

New subscriber here. Your videos are enjoyable and relaxing. Thanks for bringing us along! Thumbs up!

[@contessa26-jim]

I'm so pleased you're enjoying them, there'll be another one coming up soon!

[@MrA1582000]

Lovely informative and very amusing. Looks like great fare.

[@trl2342]

Great video, thank you for sharing! Provides insight into what I'll need to do when I'm at that leg of my own journey to sail the seas :)

[@contessa26-jim]

Thank you, I'm pleased you liked it and it gave you some inspiration#

[@AndrewCooper-jh8gx]

Laughed out loud at this terrific sailing video. Thank you!

[@contessa26-jim]

I'm so pleased you enjoyed it Andrew!

[@Garryck-1]

I was about to subscribe anyway... but the news at the end that you're going for the Jester Challenge.. well.. you leave me no choice. SUBSCRIBED!!

[@contessa26-jim]

Yeah, this was actually recorded on the way home after completing the Jester Challenge..

[@SailWhiskeyDream]

I like that gimbal

[@contessa26-jim]

Essential on a boat at sea!

[@billfromgermany]

Brilliant! Reminds me of single-handing my Twister. A super-yacht in comparison😂 Love your little galley seat. I’ve sold out, gone to an even bigger mega-yacht, a Rustler 36. The Contessa is a wonderful boat, sailed on an early one, Binkie, in the late 60’s.

[@contessa26-jim]

Twister is a great boat. As is the Rustler, you're clearly a man of taste and discernment!

[@samsails9820]

Brilliant video Jim 👌

[@contessa26-jim]

Thanks Sam!

[@RoryL83]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing!

[@contessa26-jim]

Thanks Rory, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@marie-pascaleleonetti1555]

Excellent ! Et une pensee pour Tania Aebi et son contessa 26 around the world.....❤

[@contessa26-jim]

Yeah, I've read the book; a fantastic achievement!

[@nhojnhoj6767]

"Always wash up." Lol.

[@contessa26-jim]

😅

[@Garryck-1]

@@contessa26-jim - I heartily approve and agree!

[@sallystamford4897]

Yummy yum, yum, yum...! 😋 Xx (I feel a bit queasy 😂)

[@redwood1957]

All but the kitchen sink. Thank you

[@contessa26-jim]

Unfortunately no kitchen sink, but I do have a plastic washing up bowl!

[@neillambton4065]

Reminds me of cooking on my Pandora international. I originally had a 2 burner Taylors parafin stove, which i swapped out for a gas one. I wish i`d kept the Taylors. Great vid, i will subscribe imediately.

[@contessa26-jim]

Thank you Neill

[@alcooper944]

You left the most important ingredient out , a can of coconut cream . Very difficult moving around with no headroom , thanks for taking the time

[@contessa26-jim]

Now that's a very good idea, I shall add a couple of cans to my stores next time, thanks!

[@gordiallen]

Peel garlic with a teaspoon, it works! Enjying your videos.

[@contessa26-jim]

I'm wondering how to do that, google isnt very helpful..

[@RobertSmith-jl4yw]

That's what my wife and I will be doing soon in a similarly sized galley on our Sunmaid 20 (Australian 20-footer), once I've finished the galley re-fit. The final scene: is that a "Wave Rover Mk3" wind-vane there?

[@contessa26-jim]

Yes it is! Well spotted. It works a treat even downwind. The only trouble I had with a UK boat is that there is a large lazarette at the stern so you have to climb up on top of that to adjust, which can be scary at night or in fresh conditions... I'm just completing a modification that converts the bottom ring into a pulley which takes a cord so you can operate it from the cockpit..🙂

[@ximono]

@@contessa26-jim Have you tried the Hebridean wind vane? If so, how do the two compare? In any case, are you still happy with the Wave Rover wind vane?

[@BLACKMINER73]

Cool Video, now I got to get up and cook me some food.😊😊😊

[@contessa26-jim]

Thanks, I hope I inspired you!

[@dennisprice8798]

Loved this real time cooking at sea. I just wish the sound was bit better but considering what is going on...not bad.

[@contessa26-jim]

Yeah you're right, I'm new to this and I think the built in mic on the GoPro isn't the best way to go.. I'll get better!

[@mickey1299]

Hmmm , one pot cooking , sounds perfect . A quick curry , can't think of anything better . Personally i would have cut the ingredients smaller , but that's just personal taste , and secondly i would source a smaller cooking pan for eating . Dish complete with handle , much easier to hold in a seaway . And if you've got a lid , would help to keep food warm , just in case to have to leave it , to attend to the necessary while under way .

[@contessa26-jim]

Thanks for the input Mickey!

[@mickey1299]

@@contessa26-jim Nah credit where it's due my friend . Ya got a like outta me .

[@craiglittle7367]

That’s a lot of stuff in that little pot! lol

[@contessa26-jim]

I know! I had to stop before it overflowed!

[@craiglittle7367]

@@contessa26-jim I hope it was good, my friend. 👍🏼

[@contessa26-jim]

@@craiglittle7367 Oh it was!

[@pironiero]

love the jokes

[@contessa26-jim]

There are jokes? 🙂

[@pironiero]

@@contessa26-jim yeah, like the one about wrinkly peppers =)

[@p.bateman7033]

And how was your day at the office? Live Life on your own terms! Good on you mate 🫡

[@contessa26-jim]

Isn't it the best office there is! Luckily I don't have to go to the office unless I want to due to my extreme age

[@mariajosemorenoguerrero8638]

The table for eat?!

[@contessa26-jim]

There is a table, but when the boat is moving a lot I don't use it, as nothing will stay still on it!

[@James-gf9jl]

I felt quite seasick watching that.

[@contessa26-jim]

Oh dear, I'm sorry about that! 🙃

[@rpaasse6453]

You lost me at veggie. Now, bbq at sea..........thats art!!

[@contessa26-jim]

I can just picture a rail mounted BBQ in a good seaway, that would make an amazing video!

[@rpaasse6453]

@@contessa26-jim And great bbq 🙂

[@theyacht40]

video even !!

[@mattharvey8712]

Bravo..........I can tell u are not n middle of ocean.......because u didn't rinse the sauce can........and then said was chanel Ireland.....cheers

[@contessa26-jim]

The sea was very clear and clean, quite a contrast to the Bristol channel!

[@swsfrancais7289]

First dibs on the Origo if you decide to sell it!!

[@contessa26-jim]

Ok youre on! Funny how popular they are..

[@valentinionita4798]

I have subscribed because you are honest. A very rare trait. You present things as is not like most of those boaters who try to impress or boost or do anything for likes and subscribers. I don't really like English people but when I see quality it is impossible to overlook it and not appreciate it. In your simplicity I see many good, beautiful things about sailing life.

[@contessa26-jim]

Thank you so much! I don't like lots of English people either.. 🙂. It's true, I do just tell it like it is; the amateur approach! I'm not trying to make money but just share my experiences and I'm glad you like my offerings!

[@ArnoldLarsen90]

I don't like people named valentinionita

[@rezawaheed8879]

hillarrrious said the first mate

[@contessa26-jim]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@sallystamford4897]

I'm not sure I did 😂 X

[@deanpurcell7771]

Who's on lookout while you are cooking?

[@contessa26-jim]

Yeah good question, of course it's me! At this time I was about 50 miles from land and not in a shipping lane, there were no vessels in sight. I go above and have a good look around every 20 minutes or so. Additionally I have an AIS transponder which alerts me to the presence of larger vessels and lets then know I am there, so there's virtually no chance of being taken by surprise by anyone...

[@deanpurcell7771]

@@contessa26-jim Thanks, I really enjoyed this video, looking forward to your others.

[@contessa26-jim]

@@deanpurcell7771 Thanks, there will certainly be more !

[@churchofthegreenflipflop2436]

Why didn’t you change point of sail?

[@contessa26-jim]

Because I was heading in the direction I wanted to go and any change in the point of sail would, I think, have been more uncomfortable..

[@Александрович-ф7щ]

Даа, к этому надо приспособится 😂

[@lorrainefarrell6470]

Oh I loved watching this James ☺️ I smiled and chuckled all the way through it….and veggie too! Bloody marvellous 😁⛵️

[@contessa26-jim]

Thanks Lorraine! :)

[@StevenJQuinlan]

I suspect as I'm about to set sail on a 27 foot boat, this video is foreshadowing

[@contessa26-jim]

Have a brilliant adventure!

[@HP-qj4gz]

Smells great! I feel a bit jealous as I sailed up from Milford Haven to Pwllheli with nothing but cold rice pudding! I'm a big fan of Origo alcohol stoves though. I have some French ethanol which doesn't smell at all. As soon as the gas bottle empties on my boat the Origo will go in. I need to build a gimbal mount like yours. Any chance of a video showing it?

[@contessa26-jim]

Oh dear, the thought of subsisting on rice pudding is not a nice one! Yes I could do something about stove gimbals, I'll put it on the list.. and you're right, some spirits are worse than others.. I do often have to put time carbon monoxide detector outside though

[@Garryck-1]

It's kind of a shame that Origo stoves are no longer being manufactured, eh?

[@HP-qj4gz]

@@Garryck-1 yes indeed. There's a company called Compass who manufacture similar (if not exactly the same).

[@contessa26-jim]

@@Garryck-1 Yes, I didn't know that..

[@SpinningGill]

I'd love to see a gimbal video@@contessa26-jim. We've just taken out the gas cooker of our new (to us) Nicholson 26) and bought a Compass24 stove, which isn't a straight drop in to the old gimbals as it's about 1cm wider, so we're looking at others' gimbals at the moment, and I remembered watching this video a month ago or so. :)

[@SlowCarToChina]

Why did you downsize from the 32’? 0:02

[@contessa26-jim]

Easier to sail single handed, I can easily pull up the mainsail by hand where I had to use the winch on the 32.. costs lower on all fronts.. still sails beautifully.. downside is headroom and space below!

[@Garryck-1]

"Two second rule"?? Heck, I make regular use of the "five second rule"... I'll even (within reason) eat food that got accidentally left out on the bench overnight. My motto, based on long experience is, "Don't mollycoddle your gut, and you won't get sick anywhere near as often. And you'll shake off colds and flu's a lot faster than most people."

[@contessa26-jim]

Heck yes!

[@craiglittle7367]

Eat it out of the pot like FeatureMan does.

[@contessa26-jim]

😀 One has to maintain standards you know... I think dispensing with the formality of dressing for dinner is a sufficient concession to the conditions!

[@tomate4461]

The funny thing with Spirits is, when you pure it in a water filter like BR ITA 2 or 3 times, the smell disappears more or less and you almost can drink it, kidding never drink this

[@contessa26-jim]

Haha, yes I was trained at an early age that this stuff is strictly non potable!

[@davidmccarty6445]

What are you sailing,a 22 ft O'Day

[@contessa26-jim]

This boat is a Contessa 26 from 1970..

[@Wasatch99]

Salt n pepper

[@contessa26-jim]

Indispensable!

[@markmackenzieblack2052]

Think I'd rather have a ready made anything!!!

[@STEAK_inc.]

did you know that you can peel ginger with a spoon... probably a useless fact

[@contessa26-jim]

Oh really? I'm going to try that!

[@everready19373]

I could never do that. I get sea sick very easily. Even on Lake Erie with 2-3 foot waves. I could not WAIT to get back to shore. I guess it's a good thing I joined the Air Force and NOT the Navy.

[@contessa26-jim]

I used to get very seasick.. Now, if I havent sailed for a while I can get sick on the first day, but it soon wears off the more you do