Programs Blog

Tuesday March 11, 2025

Log (nm): 1559

Description of location: Anchored in Hakana Bay

Today marks our last full day of two weeks of offshore sailing on the Robert C. Seamans. We are anchored in a beautiful little cove with clear water and deep green mountains called Hakana Bay. I have learned so much since leaving Auckland. I’ve gotten used to sleeping in the bouncy, noisy foc’sle, seen dolphins and albatrosses and whales,  improved my steering and even learned how to do alkalinity processing during 20 ft swells (hint: it takes 4 people). My favorite moment of the trip so far was when I was furling the Jib Topsail on the bowsprit at sunrise and a pod of dolphins came to play in our bow wake. They were so close you could hear their squeals. I took my time tying the sail ties that morning.

Our mate Eric has taught us lots, including the game of butt wrestling which was introduced during a particularly uneventful dawn watch. Two people stand facing each other with a rope around their hips, and try to get the other one to take a step (see picture). This stupid game has brought entertainment and laughter to us all of late. Similarly, we have been having music circles, playing songs ranging from Outkast’s Hey ya to Dolly Parton’s 9-5 (which we have all had stuck in our head). We are all beginning to feel more confident as we enter the junior watch officer shadow phase, where one student a watch shadows the mate, calls the sail maneuvers and makes sure everything is running smoothly. I have really enjoyed seeing all of my classmates step up and lead their watches. It was my turn to JWO shadow last night on dawn watch, as we brought the boat through the edge of Cook Strait, closer to Hakana Bay. I learned lots about how to deal with boat traffic, and got to call the sailhandling of the jib and the topsail. I turned over the watch as the sun was rising over the mountains outside of Hakana Bay. 

After a satisfying breakfast and nap, I woke up to us anchored in the peaceful cove and spent the morning journaling and taking in the views of our first encounter with the South Island. For class today, we all learned how to go aloft and onto the course yard. As someone who gets spooked by heights, I was equally excited and nervous for this endeavor. Happy to say I made it up and out on the yard and was able to enjoy the widespread views of the landscape and our little boat beneath us. The day got even better when a swim call was announced, and we all jumped off of the bowsprit into the clear, green water. The chilliness of it had us reminiscing about our weekly cold plunges in Woods Hole, which feels like a whole universe away from here. We warmed up on the cabin top, and watched “Captain Ron” in the salon after dinner. Tomorrow, we will sail across the Cook Strait and into Wellington. I am looking forward to laundry and the dumpling alley Eric keeps telling us about, but I will miss the albatrosses, sunrises and music circles and our little world aboard the Seamans. 

Caitie McCabe, B watch, Sarah Lawrence College

Mom and dad- I hope you’ll let me take the boat out after this!

Photo 1 caption: Ang and our mate Eric butt wrestling with an audience on the quarterdeck

Photo 2 caption:

Photo 3 caption: Dolphins under the bowsprit