Programs Blog

Author: Eleftheria-Sofia Dragoti, B Watch, College of the Atlantic

Ship’s Log

Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Noon Position(Lat and Long): 17° 15.4’ S x 148° 04.6’ W

Ship Heading (degrees): 36° True

Ship Speed (knots): 4 knots

Taffrail Log (nm): 3855

Weather / Wind / Sail Plan (from 1300 Watch Change): Starboard close haul
under the staysl’s. Wind south east by east, force 4.

Description of location: Northeast of Tahiti

In hiking trails you might encounter a circle with a dot
inside made from stones which signifies the ending of a game or a hiking
path. In my day-to-day life, the closes thing to this symbol that signifies
the endings, and the beginnings are my bruises.

Throughout my life I have seen bruises as indications of having fun and
living life to its fullest. Every adventure is filled with pure moments of
joy that I have come to appreciate while I notice new bruise forming in my
body. Bruises slowly fade away to create space for other bruises, for other
memories, and that’s what I personally consider as the beginning of the end.

Bruises in my arms from passing the jib, in my knees from standing for
lookout.

Bruises in my thighs from being a stustew and for doing the dishes.

Bruises from going to dry stores and to the engine room during boat checks.

Bruises from setting and striking the main, the course, the top sail and the
jib.

Today the day started by waking up for morning watch at 0600 and as I was
getting dressed I noticed that the bruises I have in my legs and thighs have
started to fade. Grabbed some pears for breakfast and head to deck at 0640
to brush my teeth on deck and Sam who was standing lookout pointed the land
on our port side for me. It was a slight line of very faded light grey
standing above the horizon. It took me a few seconds to notice it. It’s so
strange for the first time in the last month or so, seeing something on the
horizon other than birds, clouds, dolphins or whales. After watch turnover I
took the helm and at 0715 there was a double rainbow on our port side after
a few seconds of rain. At 0905 as we were preparing to start gybing for the
deployment of a neuston net, we noticed a yacht approximately 3 nautical
miles from us and we were all looking at it until it disappeared from our
eye sight, we were so surprised to see other people around us as we haven’t
encounter any boats since the third day of our sailing trip. As I was
standing lookout at 1140, we started seeing some definition of the mountain
line of Tahiti in a light shade of grey next to couple of white cumulus
clouds on our port side, after gybing at 1230, now with Tahiti to our
starboard side we were excited to point it out to every single one of our 37
closest friends. Instead of class today, at 1410 we had special cleaning
projects; B watch was doing the inventory of all galley related ingredients
and we got to reorganize dry stores. Class finished with a fire hose shower
for all of us followed by a deck shower and ice cream from New Zealand.
After, I got to enjoy the sunset on the quarter deck and shoot stars during
twilight (or star frenzy as we like to call it). Anneka and Zahra saw some
land lights and couple of people managed to see the green flash during
sunset. The day ends with dinner in the salon and deep conversations.

Bruises in my arms from passing the jib, in my knees from standing lookout
are not noticeable anymore

Bruises in my thighs from being a stustew and for doing the dishes have turn
into lighter shades of brown

Bruises from going to dry stores and to the engine room during boat checks
are so small

Bruises from setting and striking the main, the course, the top sail, and
the jib have almost disappeared

Eleftheria-Sofia Dragoti, B Watch and College of the Atlantic