Programs Blog

Author: Sarah Loprinzo, C Watch, University of Delaware

Ship’s Log

Sunday, July 28 2024

Noon Position (Lat and Long): 16°48.671’S 179°17.006’E

Ship Heading (degrees):  131°

Log (nm): 370.3

Weather / Wind:  SE winds Force 3/ mostly sunny with a double rainbow!

Description of Location: Anchored at Savusavu off the coast of Vanua Levu

Sleeping under the stars will truly never be the same again. On top of the lab is where the mainstay’l lies and where the best sleeping spots are found. I love sitting there and watching the shooting stars while we all try to guess the constellations, of course usually being wrong. Unless second mate Vuk comes out with his fancy green laser pointer and shows us all up. We have also been on the lookout for satellite stations trying to find Elon Musk’s Wi-Fi. After being underway for the past few days, I have to say that nighttime is my favorite part, especially squid TV! We have anchored off the coast of Savusavu and started hour long anchor watches with the fun addition of watching fish swarm to the bright light set up off the port stern. The small fish are attracted to the light thinking it is sunlight where their food, phytoplankton, would be found. Thus, attracting squid and other larger creatures to feed on the tiny fish. We haven’t seen anything that exciting yet, but we have many more nights to come!

            Anchoring today was the start of our very first official snorkel survey at Point Reef. All three watch groups went out and did an amazing job collecting data and having such a great time. The reefs were beautiful, and the fish were magical. My favorite fish to see was the scissortail sergeant which is a black and white striped damselfish that are all over the reef. C watch (my watch) entered the water with a double rainbow and an optimistic attitude leaving the water with anticipation for some of stewards Brooke and Natalie’s food which is my other favorite parts of the day.

            SWIM CALL! After all our boat checks (also called boaties), anchor checks, lab hourlies, surface stations, and weather logs have been done we all got to experience swim call today. The pool was opened, and the bow nets were calling our names. Even our medical personnel/ 21^st student, Evdog jumped into the water as well as the other crew members. One being our reef tech baddie Alex who dedicated her jump to our Fijian bus driver Tukes!

            I am having the best time of my life and could not wish for better people to be surrounded with. This experience has truly changed my life giving me a lifetime of memories and friendships I will never forget. I do miss my family and friends at home and wish they could be here to experience this with me.

Love and miss you Mom, Dad, Julia, and of course Hank. Send my love to Nanny and Granddaddy, the Loprinzo family, and the neighbors.

Hi Lucas, Chris, Jayden, and all the line dancing crew, can’t wait to boogie and see everyone.

Mary and Fiona, I love and miss you both I have so many stories to share.

P.S. Matt, the fish say hi.

Sarah Loprinzo, C Watch, University of Delaware