News

Monday, 19 October 2026
Noon Position: 33° 28.993N x 059° x34.8 W
Ship Heading: 185°
Ship Speed: 8 kn
Log: 1089 nm
Weather / Wind / Sail Plan:  clear weather, small clouds from stern
Location: Middle of the ocean

My new normal consists of the following: sleeping like a rock in my cozy bunk right across from the heads (bathrooms), then to getting woken up by someone whispering behind my curtain “Pssssst……….Willa, you have thirty minutes until your watch starts, wear good clothes and get ready.” I say this because that is exactly what happened this morning at half past midnight. I got up, got changed, and before tending to my usual tasks I made a cup of coffee for myself and one for my watch mate, Obie. Getting to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean is truly a sight you can never get sick of, so after working for six hours I got to watch the lovely sunrise.

Then I got to climb down below to grab my journal and go back and sit to watch the remainder of the daylight flood into the sky. When I pulled out my journal, the first word I wrote was “Gratitude” followed by a thorough brain dump of how lucky I feel to be where I am right now, and how I should never take my life for granted. This morning I kept thinking about the pressure I put on myself and how through coming to this insanely cool and eye opening program, I’ve been able to meet people who love what they do but went through so much change and flexibility to their life prior to the place they are in now. It acts as a good reminder for us as teenagers who are leading into adulthood that we don’t need to have everything all figured out. After about an hour of my philosophical journaling I finally went to bed again at the ripe time of 0800 (8am). Once I woke up hours later I then went to class, and read on the quarter deck until sunset. 12 hours in between watches seems like a lot of time but with sleeping, eating and showering its much shorter than you’d think. So by dinner as I chatted with friends, I was already putting my harness on to get back on deck for 1300- 0100. In all another lovely day on the Cramer.

Willa, C-Watch

PS – I just wanted to say a happy birthday to the greatest guy I know, my Papa. When I’m lucky enough to watch the sunrise and sunset from this boat, I remind myself that the bravery and courage you gave to me is the reason I am where I am right now and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for that. I love you so much it hurts and I hope you are spending this day living it up and hanging out with our family. I may not be there physically but I’ll always be there in spirit!! love you.

Angels also to my mama and my brother Brewer, I love you both soooooo sooo much and I can’t wait to see you both and get oysters while we chat when I’m back.