News
Beauty of the Sea
Ship’s Log
Noon Position
21 45.3° N x 058 07.8° W
Ship Heading
BandL ~ 170°
Ship Speed
4.5 knots
Taffrail Log
2708 nm
Weather / Wind / Sail Plan
Wind – ENE force 4, Seas – ENE 3ft, Have the four lowers, Tops’l and Raffee set!
I’m sad that I’m missing the most beautiful time of year back home. Fall in Maine is one of my most favorite things. I love of the all different pretty colors that come with it! Fall is also when things start slowing down on my family’s farm (after Common Ground Fair and the turkeys of course). I have a few fall leaves that my boyfriend gave me hung in my bunk. It’s funny how those three little leaves can change my entire mood and never fail to make me feel better when thinking of home. I like having a bit of Maine’s beauty along with me on this adventure into the sea. With all that being said before coming on this boat I thought nothing could compare to that time of year in Maine. After weeks of being surrounded by open ocean with nothing else in sight, the colors of the skies and seas have changed my mind. Watching the sun peek above the horizon line of the oceans blue lighting the sky with various shades of pink, orange, and purples breathtaking every time. The sunsets are just as pretty too!
Sails in the sunset
Living on a boat definitely comes with some ups and downs. Some that I never thought I would have to partake in my daily routine. Like having to worry about whatever I set down rolling away, learning how to walk when in a gale, adjusting to a new sleep schedule, making sure I’m walking on the high side, keeping in mind there’s always people sleeping, and timing my laundry around the weather. That feeling of constant movement is hard to get used to, but over time these little things start to just become habits. With these challenges there are also many up sides to boat life. I’ve found there’s such a strong and loving community, amazing food (thanks to Shelby and Will), really cool science that we get to be a part of, so many things to lean!
Dark water and pretty clouds.
Today started off with a nice morning watch. Phoenix and I were in lab and the rest of A Watch was on deck/dish. After our six hour of watch we then had our second to last field day. It’s hard to believe that much time has already passed. After field day it turned out the fire hoses needed to be tested. What better way to do that then grabbing some soap and getting cooled off and cleaned with some powerful sea water spray. As we get closer to St. Croix, the days just keep getting hotter and hotter. The heat makes many things on the boat ten times more difficult. For example; sleeping in a bunk with one tiny fan, cooking in the galley, and having to wear close toed shoes for morning station. On days like today getting a break from the heat makes fun activities like this very enjoyable. After we all took our sea water shower, those of us who were not on watch then hangout on top of the labtop drying off as we watched the sunset, laughing at inside jokes, and already planning our reunion road trip.
It’s weird to think in only a about week my fellow shipmates and I will be entering the “real world” again. I feel like I’ve just gotten use to the boat life it’s going to be hard for me to adjust back to my normal life. Living in such a small space with the same thirty-one people, who have become some of my closest friends, is a way of living that I’ve come to love. Being so detached from the outside world is a hard feeling to describe. There’s going to be so much to get caught up on once we all get back to land. Our community on the boat won’t be the only we have to worry about anymore. I have so many things I’m excited to tell my family about as I’m sure the rest of my shipmates do. As much as I miss my family and loved ones, I’m not sure if I’m ready to say bye to my family here.
P.S to the fam: Mom and Dad I hope you’re not stressing too much, and that things on the farm are going as good – well as much as it can without me wink Elijah, I miss you so so much! I’m counting down the days to see you again wink Henry, I can’t wait to hear all about your moose hunt! Also pls tell the cowies I miss them. Ru, I know you’re kicking ass in cross country and soccer. Keep up the good work girly, I’m cheering you on from here! Hails I know you’re probably the only one actually reading this, so pls pass the word that I miss everyone and I can’t wait to tell you all about it in St. Criox.
– Paige Bell, A Watch