Based on the excerpt, readers can conclude that odysseus (the speaker)

excerpt: they scrambled to their places by the rowlocks
and all in line dipped oars in the gray sea.
but soon an offshore breeze blew to our liking—
a canvas-bellying breeze, a lusty shipmate sent
by the singing nymph with sunbright hair.
so we made fast the braces, and we rested,
letting the wind and steersman work the ship.