Programs Blog

July 5, 2025

Time: 04:30

Location: 09°11.074N,145°23.738W

Weather: Humid, hot (28C at night!), lots of wind (consistent 20+ knots), intermittently squally

Hello friends!

It’s 04:30 in the morning during our dawn watch and you can just begin distinguishing the sky from the water. First “light” happens at about 4:20, though the sun won’t truly rise until 05:27. I’ve been trying to decide what to share with y’all, and have decided that while you’ve heard lots about our schedule, surroundings, and thoughts, you’ve heard a bit less about the people. So here I submit my character study, with the recognition that the 12 days we have left together will surely further shape and expand these perceptions!

Captain Allison – Oh captain our captain – always excited by the weather, drawing beautiful clouds, encouraging folks to take a moment to listen and breathe, fun patterned button up shirt model

Jan – Dr. Chief Scientist – happy as a clam to be on the boat, deeply comfortable here after 20 odd years on and off, inveterate coffee drinker, a naturalist excited about any and all phenomena, ask him for a species name and you’ll receive it, big creature or small!

Beth – Ocean Policy prof – lover of acronyms, unabashed asker of questions, ship Wordle officiant, leader of Beth’s Book Club, and constant producer of knowledge, she wholeheartedly enters each new experience

Angi – engineer and roommate – always plucking away at projects, ever awoken for engine room check ins, wearer of bright and silly shirts, always a lil sweaty and a lil greasy, fiddle player and singer always ready to jump in for a song

Leyla – budding engineer – lab top basker, delighter in the sun and water, star gazer, fastest sunglasses, holder of gratitude, can chat with anyone

Vix – chief steward of my heart! – colorful colorful colorful, mastermind of repurposing leftovers, no bits left behind, bread baker, silly clip wearing, sunrise appreciating, fish wrangler, the food they make is a consistent rose for all

Gillian – vice stew – master slicer and dicer, imaginative and inventive and endlessly creative, appreciator of fine cheeses and fresh vegetables, also a lab top aficionado, lover of the sun!

Rocky – my watch partner and chief mate – could do this in his sleep, gentle and jolly and patient as a teacher, master star and constellation knower, king of midnight ramen

Sara –fixer/ 2^nd mate – magic coiling hands, lover of snack, seeker of shady spots for an afternoon read, always cracking jokes, small and so mighty

Mike – captain dad/ Mr. safety/3^rd mate – also small and mighty with a water bottle to match, Mr. Hydration, New York joke slinging, first in line for dish washing, ever helpful and ever learning

Jordan – first scientist and my hero – knows each crevice and crack of the lab, lover of treats, sun seeker, social chair, master educator and comforter, patient patient patient, leader of the pushup trio

Colin – 2^nd sci and my partner in learning – witty, lover of the deck shower, sunset appreciator, card game instigator, Top guitar player in our area

Wika (me!) – 3^rd scientist – a lil silly, a lot excitable, jumping and laughing forever!

Brian –visiting sci #1 –  nocturnal or diurnal who can tell, myctophid fish counter, expert couch napper, strives to never miss a snack, one half of BNAJ

Audrey – visiting sci #2 – diurnal for sure, camera at the ready, she of the calm cool confidence, lab DJ, draw-er of little drawings, committed notebooker, the other half of BNAJ

Isaiah – A watch – bandana wearing, hand raising, always ready to debrief their latest book, excitable about anything and everything, expert creator of science reports

Flo – A watch – Miss Manners, quarterdeck yoga practicing, RCS mini crossword creator, seeker of the sun, boat checker extraordinaire

Elle – A watch – the sleepiest person at the breakfast table, the highs are so high, tan seeking, quarterdeck laying, #1 question asker

Amelia – A watch – dawn watch giggler, yes woman, song singer, will try anything once, so curious

Lila – A watch – holds all the most important shipboard jobs – doctor, post master, and social organizer, bright color wearing, silly face making, checker-inner

Tessa – All but B watch – our lonely deckhand, never lonely at all, top prankster, always ready with a joke or a story, game instigator, somehow ever present to lend a hand, community builder, 1/3 of the push up trio

Sophie – B watch – top dance moves, commits 100%, calm cool and competent, persistent, excellent asker of “why”

Rufus – B watch – king of saying “thanks”, curious to try his hand at everything, midnight snack and cuppa enthusiast, most likely to wear a jacket

Emmy – B watch – watch and learner, willing to take on responsibility, community center point, sheet anchor devotee, trendsetter, boat hairdresser

Jenna – B watch – data scribe with perfect number handwriting, couch book reader, honest opinion giver, extremely quick learner

Madelyn – B watch – galley mat nemesis, most likely to deal with gross things, first to volunteer, coffee mug in hand, deep thinker and immediate boat person

Lara – B watch – bucket hat and pastel wearing, always listening, ocean current interpreter, will eat anything, French rap DJ

Quinn – C watch – able to start a conversation with anyone about anything, excitable about the boat and the world, cheerleader, always positive, part of the push-up trio, boat illustrator

Raquel – C watch – La Tonta, everyone’s friend, creator of nicknames, hardest to awaken, rival prankster of Tessa, does not back down from any challenge, #1 pajamas

Amy – C watch – world’s best Spit card game player, quick and clever, will finish anything she puts her hand to, most improved (seasickness edition), knows what she wants and goes for it, deck breakfast appreciator

Josie – C watch – bird lover, spontaneous decision maker, silly bouncer around, laughter runs so close to the surface, all in, is becoming a true salty sailor

Claire – C watch – answer always at the ready, has something to say about everything, ready to use her knowledge for Good, #1 night gown, best riddler

Family and friends, I hope you enjoy seeing a glimpse of your loved ones and the merry ship’s company we are creating. Life on the boat is intimate by necessity, and who you share your vessel with matters! Luckily we have a tremendous group of folks on this program, and we are building our community together piece by piece.

My love to my family, the goons, and particularly Sonja, particularly today.

PS From Sophie, Happy 7/12^th mirthday Ellie!

These photos should include everyone in the ship’s company, keep your eyes peeled!