Programs Blog

Author: Diego Inigo-Payne, Stony Brook University and Sam Brandt, College of Charleston

Ship’s Log

28 November 2023
Current Position: 35° 10.951’S  175° 20.467’E
Ship’s Heading and Speed: Stationary in Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island
Weather: Light winds and some clouds, low 60s

We are back…again, hey everybody,

So unfortunately Davi is not on board, yet, so we have no one to tell bad jokes
too, please excuse the inner thoughts. We are so pumped to get crew back
from quarantine tomorrow and bring the ship’s company to full status.  But
on the here and now, our day started with Sam and B Watch taking charge on
morning watch (0700-1300). First we got a fantastically amazing breakfast of
eggs, potatoes, bacon, and fruit from iron chef Ashley (Gordon Ramsey’s
mentor is Ashley). After our hearty breakfast to get us going, B Watch met
up on the quarterdeck to meet with A Watch who was finishing out dawn watch
(0100-0700) to go over their orders for the day. After turnover, B Watch
headed right into gybing (turning around) the ship, which required all of us
on deck. After a successful completion of line handling and with the Seamans
on a new course, Sam headed below deck to his assigned station of student
engineer for the day. There he was able to get into the nuts and bolts
(haha) of the innerworkings of our home, and how our radical engineers Abby
and Angi get it done.  The rest of B Watch completed some more line handling
and another gybe, while our lab team completed a CTD deployment, Neuston net
tow, and even a phytoplankton net tow. The CTD once again was able to snag a
Pyrosome on its way back up, this time with a fish inside. Mate Tierney and
scientist Amy are keeping B(east) Watch in the game with their amazing
leadership skills, serious grit. Finally at 1300 Diego and C Watch took over
for the afternoon (1300-1900).
       
Starting off with delectable fried polenta and enchiladas (big ups to the
galley) Diego and C Watch then took charge on deck starting out with some
sail handling. We continued sailing off the coast of Great Barrier Island
until eventually it was time to head into port. With Kaden at the helm, we
struck the sails and continued on with our motor into Port Fitzroy. The
closer we got to the island, the more spectacular it became. Huge rocky
cliffs jabbing out of the sea topped with assortments of greenery. Seabirds
came swarming off the cliffs and the skies were soon filled with more
Australasian gannets than we could possibly count (not for our science teams
though, shout out Kelly). As the last sails came in, the whole deck went
silent so Kaden could be directed by Captain Allison navigating through
narrow passages into the cove. The ship came to a restful stop and lay
anchor in the mouth of the bay. C Watch then wrapped up our final duties and
handed off the responsibility to A Watch. We closed the day with a delicious
meal of shrimp stir fry over rice while watching the Gannets plunge dive for
their own dinner.

Life on the boat is unreal! Signing off,
Diego Inigo-Payne, Stony Brook University
Sam Brandt, College of Charleston