Programs Blog

Audrey Platt, C Watch, Harvard University

Ship’s Log

Noon Position

34° 18.015’N x 159° 31.657’W

Ship Heading

89°

Ship Speed

4.5 knots

Weather / Wind 

Partly Cloudy (is for awesome sunsets)

Sail Plan

Sailing east with the Main Sail, Mainstays’l, Forestays’l, and Jib

Souls on Board

As always, today was a jam packed day at sea. The day started with a late wake-up after evening watch: 10:30am (gasp). After grabbing a quick morning snack it was time for our morning Conservation and Management class.

Throughout the voyage we have had small discussion sections within our watch groups, and with Corinna, about a variety of marine policy topics. Today we talked about the term “climate refugee”. What does this mean? What actions does it spur? What reputations does it have? Do we need to find a new word for “climate refugee”?

After class we had a watch meeting (I am in C watch). In watch meetings, we get to check in with our group, learn new skills, and go over any lingering questions. Then it was off to a quick lunch and a trek up on deck for watch!

It wasn’t too long before we took a pause from our regularly scheduled watch rotations for our daily class meeting!

It was here that we found out the simultaneously unfortunate and exciting news that we would be rotating watch leaders. Starting tomorrow each watch group is going to be paired with a different mate and assistant scientist. I think I can speak for us all when I say that it’s so exciting to get to learn from new leaders, but we’re going to miss our OG team. In other troubling news we will be springing forward into a new time zone tomorrow… After announcements, it was class’s main event. The lab practical: which is perhaps the cleverest way to hide a test that I have ever seen. The amazing scientists taped questions all around the boat, and we got to circle around the ship answering the science questions on a variety of topics ranging from marine birds, to moon phases, to neuston nets.

Then, it was back to watch. I was on dish duty today. And while dishes might not sound the most fun, there are perks of being in the galley: most notably the chance to witness (and maybe even taste) the stewards amazing concoctions. Today, dinner was fancy pizza!

C watch finished the night with a continuation of our Woods Hole practice of arm wrestling, and some boat-ga (boat-yoga). After a whirlwind bracket, William came out on top (but as second place I think important to note that a good fight was put up).

Life at sea is a rollercoaster. One moment you’re on lookout under a perfect starry night, and the next you’re entering the splash zone as you pull a neuston net out of the ocean. Yet despite all the twists and turns life at sea is always fun, because of all the amazing people you get to surround yourself with. Thank you so much Ashlyn and Anna for the best first rotation! C is for Crazy, Comedic, C-sick, Charismatic, Coolest ever watch.

Audrey Platt, C Watch, Harvard University

P.S. For the Platt family, I hope you brought Mochi to the beach for the fourth of July!