Oct.
21, 2004
0030 hours
A short summary of the day: I helped
strike sails at 5 AM--in the dark--in a gale--and was hit by a rogue
wave that
splashed into my foulies [foul weather gear] and down into my wellies
[my boots]. I fell twice on deck. After recuperating with a
cup of instant mocha and a hot shower, I went on 8-12:30 watch and saw
a sea turtle meandering through the rough waters. Then I ate a
grilled cheese sandwich, took a sextant reading, and slept the rest of
the afternoon away.
Later, on the 2000-midnight watch, I became an Able
Seaman. Then I took the helm and steered us underneath a starry
sky directly into the moonlight, which made the masts and yards look
like skeletal shadows looming above me. It was an old,
romantic, and sea-salty moment.
Oct. 22, 2004
0408 hours:
I just finished my 12-4 AM watch. The night
watches are my favorites, especially when we're sailing under starry
skies as we did tonight. Orion was on our port side. We
used binoculars to see it and the Orion nebula, Sirius, and
Saturn. James pointed out the Andromeda galaxy on our starboard
side. There was an incredible meteorite shower in the vicinity,
too. Stargazing here is much better than it was in college, when
I spend my astronomy labs trying to pick out constellations from the
bright lights of the Nashville sky.
"Let us probe the silent places,
Let us seek what luck betides us,
Let us journey to a lonely land I know.
There's a whisper on the night wind,
There's a star agleam to guide us,
And the wild is calling, calling...
Let us go."
--Robert Service
1500 hours:
This is the first time that I've have a free
afternoon where I'm not sleeping. I've spent the last few hours
learning my pins (I think I've got it!), learning how to sun sight, and
watching dolphins off the starboard bow (there were dozens of them
cruising next to the ship and leaping out of the water--they stuck
around for 20-30 minutes). Today's one of those days when
everyone seems content, and we seem more like a family than 27
acquaintances. It's nice, even though I know that it might change
and tomorrow everyone might be cranky. But I guess that's why you
need to live in the moment--just take what you can get, and hope that
no-one will come down to the lower mess and ask you to set or strike a
sail.
2200 hours:
Tonight I sat on the starboard side of the ship and
watched the moon and its light on the water. I watched the clouds
and their shadows. I drank a hot chocolate/instant coffee
combo. It was much better than TV.
Oct. 25, 2004
0014 hours:
Happy 26th birthday to me! It's only
14 minutes into the new day and I've already received birthday wishes
and hugs from Calen and David (they were on the ongoing 12-4 watch), a
Kinder Egg from Alison, and a "surprise party" from James, Alabama, and
Alex (they were hiding in my little cabin when I returned from the
bathroom). What a great start to the day! I'm surprised and
touched by their kindness and consideration. And by the fact that
someone actually saved this
Kinder Egg for me!
Goal: climb to the masthead today. Won't it be
awesome to know that on my 26th birthday I ascended to the highest
point on the ship while sailing off the coast of Africa?
The moon was so bright tonight. During watch
we were bathed in silver.
2000 hours:
This has been one of the most memorable birthdays of
my life. This morning:
-Ate breakfast and accepted hugs from Sam :)
-Worked on my final project
-Had birthday cake during Smoko (vanilla 3 layer
cake with creamy chocolate frosting--Graham comes through AGAIN!)
-Ascended the main mast to the masthead with Will
(this was a major task for me, but I was determined to do it--it was
the most frightning/precarious
thing I've done on the entire trip)
-Got wool and knitting needles from Alison and a
cool apron and playing cards from David
-Swam in water that was 2 miles deep off the coast
of Africa with no land in sight!!!
-Had chocolate and pudding cupcakes for
dessert. Graham outdoes himself.