Programs Blog

Author: Emma Rose Mason, Colorado College

Ship’s Log

19 December 2023
Current Position: Great Barrier Island
Ship’s Heading and Speed: At Anchor!
Weather: Perfect

Hi all! Emma here. I don’t even know where to start with this blog because I
feel like this week has been so magical. I was able to go aloft multiple
times and felt so lucky to see a sun dog, or prism of light in the clouds, a
large pod of common dolphins, and even a hammerhead shark, all from aloft!
But let’s focus on December 19th! Today was the last day of our Final
Mission and A Watch started us off strong with dawn watch under the
leadership of JLO Olivia and JWO Annie Grace. Incredible! Then B Watch took
over the helm (literally) in the morning, under the leadership of JWO Sam,
and JLO Cricket. They even set the fisherman sail! Momentous! C Watch, of
which I am a part, spent the beginning of the day sleeping in after a long
overnight watch. We had a nice debrief and played telestrations. Then
workout club met for our daily planks and burpees and singing a self-written
song: “Its workout club today! Its time to go cray, we’re no longer in a
bay; we’re in the ocean, the ocean. Everybody get in motion, its time to get
some commotion, its workout club today!” Following workout club, C Watch ate
a yummy pesto-filled lunch and started the EPIC last watch rotation of Final
Mission.

Under the leadership of JWO Zeke and JLO Emma, C Watch conquered all, doing
a neuston tow just south of Little Barrier Island, and finding a bunch of
fun creatures like ctenophores, crab megalops, salps, young fishes, and
more. We motored, we sailed, we even saw penguins! We had so much fun in the
sun this afternoon and ended our watch by striking, furling, and wrapping
all the sails with covers by the time we reached our anchorage in Great
Barrier Island. I think we are all still a little weirded out by seeing land
but excited about how beautiful this place is! After watch, everyone enjoyed
a yummy dinner of potato latkes, chicken/tofu, peas, and homemade bread. We
mustered as a group to hear some Final Mission science takeaways from the
JLO’s, vote on a class representative, and enjoy the sunset together. The
galley queens even surprised us with sticky cinnamon bread, which was so
good.

I think everyone has reached a point in the trip of reflection with only a
couple days left, we look to each other in a new light than we did in Woods
Hole. It is bittersweet to think about leaving the boat, a place where we
have slept, eaten, worked, and enjoyed the stunning deep blue of the ocean
around us. We have enjoyed calm sunny days, and crazy windy seas. High highs
like Splash Mountain, going aloft, and finding crazy zooplankton in lab. And
lows too, which make us appreciate the highs even more. I am sad to think
about the small amount of time left but am so excited to see where everyone
is going to next. I feel lucky to be able to walk alongside some of S312 at
Colorado College in the spring. S312 has so much to look forward to in the
next couple of months. Some of us are about to start college, some having
graduated or graduating on this trip, and some of us are staying in New
Zealand for months after this program! But I know for a fact that everyone
will think of this experience and smile. I feel so encouraged by the people
around me and excited to celebrate all we have done in these next couple of
days!

With love and gratitude (words seen frequently around the boat),
Emma Rose Mason
C Watch

Mom, Dad, Josh, and Noah – Can’t wait to talk to you! I am eternally
grateful for you guys and am so excited to give you all lots of hugs! XOXO
EM