Programs Blog

Saturday, 7 June 2025
Noon Position: 42deg 35.5’N x 070deg 40.0′ W
Weather / Wind / Sail Plan: Fog / Calm / Staying Anchored
Description of location: Anchored out at Gloucester Harbor

Hello So-Cal, Colorado, and Florida, it’s officially been a week out at sea, and it’s been a pretty interesting day. B-watch had anchor watch the night before, and most of us slept through the morning. However, many of us would also be jolted awake from not one, two, but THREE boat horns from our own ship. We were anchored out in Gloucester Harbor because Jack unfortunately sprained his ankle the day prior and was sent into town on the small boat (he was literally perfectly fine in the end but he broke the boat and the engine started smoking AND they even had to call another ship to get them back here. Epic!). Unluckily for everyone in the main ship, we were not only out in the dead center of the harbor, but there was so much fog that we couldn’t even see the shore. After waking up, me (Lien), Orion and Dylan went outside with high hopes for squid jigging, in spite of the heavy rain. At least we finally had an excuse to use our foul weather gear. After spending nearly half the day squid jigging, using bait from smoked salmon to dino-nuggies, we unfortunately, had nothing to show. However, we were able to hook up multiple patches of seaweed which contained the biggest isopods we have ever seen. We also sent out the phyto-net, and got some interesting samples of phytoplankton in the area.

After that, we had to head into class, where we decided on our project topics. B-watch got Oceanography and Whales, so we spent the next chunk of the day doing initial research for the project. We went through books and charts in the lab and library, slowly identifying the animals we found throughout our trip. Later, Faye, Kaden, Mae, and Samaria began to experience Instagram withdrawals, and searched desperately for any source of internet they could get their hands on. LOL!!! Upon finding the library computers with MS Paint installed, Bella decided to draw the Instagram logo, longing for her reels. The fog continued to get worse, and eventually the ship had to be moved to a different location in the harbor. The ship got very busy as the whole crew went up on deck working together to avoid the various boats, fishing equipment, and buoys hidden in the never-ending fog. At 7pm our watch started and Faye and Kaden joyfully
volunteered to help with the dishes. This would later become a nearly 3 hour long endeavor of what felt like cleaning every single dish in the galley. I was looped in thinking we would be done in 30 minutes! There was a lot of frustration and manically laughing but eventually we finished! After finally finishing me, Faye, and Orion were sent to start the blog. And now we are here! Goodnight. (We are staying anchored tonight).
-Lien, Faye, and Orion. B-Watch