Programs Blog

Author: Lucy Hylton, Colorado College

Ship’s Log

18 December 2023
Current Position: 34’43.339’S, 177’41.316’E
Ship’s Heading and Speed: 101.7′ T, 4.7kts
Weather: NWxN wind, 10kts

Happy sunset hour from just outside of Poor Knights Island!

We just finished a lovely dinner of pulled pork sliders. After my Stu Stew
day yesterday (Student Steward, shadowing our lovely chefs Ashley and
Morgan) I have a much greater appreciation of all of the galley’s
inner-workings and the thought that goes into every meal. For example: how
to make soup as tumultuous waves throw ingredients and tilt the entire
galley, or the importance of securing sharp tools down before moving on to a
new task.

Today marked my watch’s first shift on the FINAL MISSION! We’ve come a long
way from the days when we couldn’t explain a gybe or a tack if our lives
depended on it. Now, we’re in charge of everything from sail handling and
navigation to lab deployments and analyzing samples. Today’s neuston net tow
brought in another large salp haul, but nothing can top the fateful dawn
watch that I, along with Cricket and D’Elle, had to count a whopping 1,700
stinky salps from the delirious hours of 0100 to 0700. It was all worth it
for the jaw-dropping sunrise though.

Considering it was my watch’s first time entirely in charge, today’s
afternoon watch went remarkably well. We were all able to play into each
other’s strengths, splitting up between deck and lab and creating a precise
schedule to smoothly rotate between roles-weather and navigation, helm,
lookout, etc. It was a beautiful, sunny day, with calm waves and some lush,
green islands on the horizon-our first land sighting since Napier! We were
even lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a hammerhead shark!

During class a few days ago, we were asked to reflect on some ways in which
we will describe this experience to others once we return home. To me, so
much of ship life is indescribable. I’ve grown so accustomed to this home
that is never still, to being awake at all hours of the day and night, and
experiencing the weird phenomenon that is ship time. I’m no longer surprised
when saltwater douses me as I stand lookout when the bow dips over a
particularly large wave, and I’ve perfected my bedtime burrito to keep me
from rolling around while I sleep. However, I’m still awestruck by the sheer
number of stars that appear above me most nights. I still have my breath
taken away by dawn watch sunrises, or when we are greeted by a friendly
flock of dolphins. And I am still in perpetual amazement, and gratitude, for
this experience.

Nearing the end of our voyage brings about a multitude of emotions, from
excitement for seeing loved ones again to fear at leaving our sweet little
bubble and facing the real world again. This trip has given me an entirely
new perspective I will take with me afterwards, our 40-person, floating
community just a speck in the Southern Pacific. I will remember and cherish
the sense of closeness that this lifestyle brings. Truly, each and every one
of us relies on each other. When I go to sleep, I am comforted in the
knowledge that my classmates are dutifully up on deck, keeping the boat safe
and on course. When, for example, a few watches ago we quickly needed to
strike the mains’l at the change of the watch, everyone leapt into action,
even the sleepy watch that had just been woken up mere minutes before. We
all climbed up onto the housetop, and took turns calling orders-“Up! Aft!
Down!” and listening as they were called back.  This same feeling of
teamwork and reliance is present anytime I hand the steering wheel off to
someone new, or make fast a line while someone holds it down for me, or fall
asleep knowing someone will wake me up at the correct time.

Speaking of falling asleep-which I don’t do much of around here-I have
morning watch tomorrow so I must begin my bedtime tasks. Those mainly
include shoving all my rogue belongings into one corner of my tiny,
overcrowded bunk and then attempting to flop myself sideways into bed
without knocking myself out on the ceiling. The final step is, of course,
the bedtime burrito. As you can see I’ve got a lot to do so I must be going!

Lucy Hylton
Colorado College
B Watch

P.S. Hi family! I love and miss you all so very much. I’m so looking forward
to seeing you all again! I hope everything is well at home, and also get
ready for NEVERENDING BOAT STORIES! I’m sending you lots of hugs, all the
way from offshore New Zealand!