Programs Blog

Monday, 04 May, 2026.

Noon Position: (Lat and Long): 32 degrees 28.4’ N, 063 degrees 07.1’ W

Log (nm): 2069 nm

Weather / Wind / Sail Plan (from 1300 Watch Change): Sailing on a beam reach, starboard tack under the four lowers C/O 325º PSC. Wind NE x E, seas N x W 5 ft.

Description of location: Over the Bermuda Rise

As you might expect, on the high seas, we think about water quite a lot. I know I think about water all day every day. Water is our lifeblood, what keeps us afloat, a resource, a luxury, a pain, and a blessing. I love water and I hate water and I’m going to write about water.

We think about the water around us.  We watch the seas carrying us, taking note of their direction and size. We watch the clouds and the water they’ll bring. We owe our travels to this water but it’s terrifying. I look down below me on lookout as the ship pitches back and forth, the sea rushing to and from where I stand. Large swells rise above looking like they’ll crash only to leak into the scuppers on the science deck. All the while, I want to jump into the same seas every day. I have never been this close to a body of water for so long and not been able to swim in it. It looks glorious and refreshing and I wish for it every day. We pray for a swim call knowing it won’t happen until calmer, more predictable water. Despite my yearning for a swim, I also despise the dampness that comes with a squall or even brief pelting of rain. Caught without your foulies on deck for even a moment as it rains and you succumb to clothes hanging from your bunk curtain line. The soles collect water, attracting sole towels at the base of every ladder to deck. The air becomes heavy and humid. Everything is damp and you can feel, smell, and breath it. Normally, I love a walk in the rain, a cool morning after spring showers, or listening to the patter of droplets on my roof but sometimes, I just want to be dry. We study the same water. It the reason for our cruise track (excluding weather related deviations of course, congrats to us for completing our circumnavigation of Bermuda). We find excitement, curiosity, and frustration. We find fascinating little guys in our net tows and 600-meter-deep water in our hyrdrocasts. This water is our reason and means of our life at sea and I love it.

As for the water on board, we have plenty. We can carry 5788 gallons of it. We use ~400 gallons of water every day for drinking, cleaning, cooking, dishes, deck washes, and more. In the words of our engineer Tadhg: “eh not bad could be better”. Every bit of it made by our lovely reverse osmosis water makers who pump away overnight. For every 8 gallons of seawater pumped in, 1 gallon of potable water is made. Our short showers make sense of course, but I am so excited an incredibly long and hot shower as well as an icy glass of water full of minerals (haven’t stopped looking forward to this since my last blog). That isn’t to say I don’t appreciate our water on board. Whoever decided to send the water bottle filler through the reefer deserves all the happiness there is to give. The amounts of coffee, tea, and Gatorade consumed is enormous and keeps everyone going. While short, our showers are still refreshing and breath life back into me. And of course, my nalgene hasn’t left my side since I got on board.

I couldn’t write this blog without mentioning that today was our first day of JWO (Junior Watch Officer) and JLO (Junior Lab Officer). Adorned with fresh uniforms, we’ve succeeded so far in not crashing, and calling many maneuvers, strikes, and sets despite our legal officers giving blank stares when asked what our next move is. I look forward to my opportunity to command the lab tonight on dawn watch!

Lastly, and most importantly of all, Happy Birthday Mom!! I hope you’re somewhere dancing to great music with an icy water bottle nearby. I miss and love you.

Fair winds and cold nalgene’s,

Liam Morrison, B Watch

Dynamic JLO handoff between Kayla and Lyra, Quin, Shelly, and Liam in back

Water that we should totally be allowed to swim in