Programs Blog

Author: Ding Xin, A Watch, Visiting researcher from Blue Nature Alliance and the Rotjan Marine Ecology Lab

Ship’s Log

Friday, July 12, 2024

Noon Position: (Lat and Long): 18 41.2’ S x 175 43.3’ W

Ship Heading (degrees): 215

Ship Speed (knots): 6.0

Log (nm): 2906

Weather / Wind / Sail Plan (from 1300 Watch Change): A little cloudy / Southeast by east / Jib, fore stay’sl, main stay’sl, main’sl set

Description of location: Eastern Fijian EEZ Border

Hello everyone!

We are writing the day after our final planned port stop in Vava’u, Tonga! We were able to dock at and explore Vava’u at 12:30 on July 11^th for about two hours. We would have been able to stay another day, but were not able due to inclement weather and sea conditions.

Hunter and I started our port stop off with a laundromat hunt, which we were able to find after running around for half an hour. Laundry on the ship is a pretty tough situation, as we only have access to hand-washing methods and saltwater, so we took this port stop as an opportunity to get our clothes nice and pristine. After that, we went to the Bellavista Cafe for lunch, where we also found many other students and crew eating there as well.

The café had a great view of the port, and it was a great place to fulfill some of our cravings. Hunter, Talia, and Sydney all got pizza; Brooke ordered a shrimp pasta alfredo dish; and I got myself a ribeye, which I’ve been thinking about the whole trip. After lunch, we all popped by a nearby tourist shop that had customized t-shirts with prints of our choice. The prints were Tonga/nautical-themed with various fauna (whales, marlin, octopus, etc.), ship-imagery, and Tongan symbolism. I bought a shirt with a shark print on the front, and a flower print on the back. After cramming so many adventures in two hours, we made our way back to ship, along with the members of the SEA film crew: Kayla, Dex, and Adam!

Now that we have departed from Tonga, we begin the last 570 nautical miles of our trip to our final destination: Nadi, Fiji. During this last leg of the trip, I’m feeling many conflicting emotions. On one hand, I’m excited to get back home as I’ve been away from my normal life for close to a month. On the other hand, I’m going to really miss the whole experience on board: being on watch with some good friends, finding cool zooplankton, and gazing up at the stars every night. Nevertheless, I hope each day will be as enthralling as the last!

Reach for the Stars,

Ding Xin

Visiting researcher from Blue Nature Alliance and the Rotjan Marine Ecology Lab

A Watch, BU Marine Program ‘25