Women on the job

“We are sailors – we are a team.”
 

Nathalie Koch is a sailor on the Lake Zug ships. She talks about “roping” in wind and waves and the wonderful feeling of being in another world.

The MS Zug heads for the jetty in Arth. Sailor Nathalie skilfully throws the rope over the jetty post, pulls with all her might and ties it. Once the ship is moored, the two of them pull the bridge away from the jetty and, with a smile, let the passengers disembark and board.

“When it's windy and wavy, “roping” – i.e. mooring and securing the ship – can be quite a challenge,” laughs the 24-year-old. On Lake Zug, the weather is different on every trip and at every jetty. What's more, the wind can change quickly. “The ship has a large surface area, so you have to be ready at all times. But over time, you learn to assess the wind, weather and waves well.” The variety is what makes the work exciting.

Nathalie Koch is one of four women who work as sailors on Lake Zug. “Lakes have always fascinated me. Water is my element, I even took the boat licence exam,” says the Mettmenstetter native. She previously worked as a pharmaceutical assistant. During the winter months, she helps out at an orphanage organisation in Tanzania. She changed careers after a captain friend of hers took her on a trial day on the ship: She was thrilled and, after practical training on the ship, passed the exam to become a deckhand. After 75 days at sea, she became a sailor. "Then you get your first gold stripe on your epaulettes," she beams.

Basically, there are still many more men than women working in shipping. Nathalie doesn't worry about the fact that sailing has traditionally been considered a male profession. Is the work physically demanding? "You can tell that you're doing something. But the exercise in the fresh air is wonderful for me." You also need to have a technical understanding. But you quickly learn how to read oil pressure and RPM, distinguish between different engines and fix small problems yourself. "Whether you're a woman or a man, we're simply sailors, we're a team."

The MS Zug is ready to set sail. The ship reverses out and Nathalie goes to the stern with her handheld radio. She makes sure that there are no swimmers or boats in the way and can radio the wheelhouse if necessary. Safety is the top priority. On the return journey, when the skipper takes a break, the sailors are allowed to take the helm themselves for a short while and steer the course. For Nathalie, this is one of the highlights: “Sitting in the wheelhouse and sailing across the water is wonderful. Up there, it's like being in another world.”

After the last trip, the crew ends the day with a ritual: they review the day's experiences on the lake over a beer after work. "It was lovely, a really peaceful atmosphere," smiles the sailor, "actually, like it almost always is."