Programs Blog

Justin Kaashoek, B Watch, Harvard College

Ship’s Log

Current Position

04°15.5’ N x 156°2.6’W

Ship’s Heading and Speed

010, 6.0 knots

Sail Plan

Sailing on starboard tack under Mains’l, Main Stays’l, Fore Stays’l, Jib, and Tops’l

Weather

Nice breeze from SE, 4’ waves, partly cloudy, 30°C

Souls on Board

125 nautical miles down, another 1000 to go! Since departing from Christmas Island yesterday, we have made good progress to our final destination: Hawaii. From the moment we left, everyone has been extremely busy. Between being back on the regular watch schedule, oceanography projects, reef reports, nautical science, it is difficult to find free time.

recovering the carousel and probably still sweating

With the little free time we have, naturally we fill it with interesting conversations. Ralfs and I just had a great conversation about sweat. We were trying to calculate how much sweat has accumulated on the boat in the past few weeks. I realize that’s not a very glamorous topic, but it is a pretty interesting calculation. We figured that, on average, one person sweats about 18 gallons a day. Sofia pointed out that Jeff and a few others probably don’t sweat as much, but we think the engineers (and I) make up for it. So, with 34 people on board and 23 days at sea, that comes out to about WAY TOO MUCH SWEAT (actually about 14,076 gallons of sweat for those interested). Needless to say, this ship is really starting to smell like the wonderful aroma of hard work. We hypothesize that most of that sweat comes from one of the following activities: hauling lines, boat checks (especially when the engine is on), being the assistant engineer, and sleeping.

Sweat, little sleep, and hard work have all become a part of everyday life here about the Robert C. Seamans. It is the most sweaty and challenging moments that make the times we have to relax all the better, however. The 20 minutes before breakfast at 0620 when the sun rises, standing at the helm as the sun sets, and the 30 minutes before bed lying on top of the doghouse with shipmates, watching a sky so full of stars it seems completely covered, are some of the times I have been most content.

With every nautical mile we get closer to Hawaii, the less time we have together on this ship. Yes, we might be sweaty, tired, and busy, but the memories, knowledge, and relationships that we will walk away with are invaluable. Luckily, we still have 10 days to continue to laugh, learn, and of course, sweat.

– Justin Kaashoek, B Watch, Harvard College

To my family- I miss you! Not too much though, don’t worry. I hope all is well at home, and Nick is actually working for once. Mom, I apologize in advance for the hair that I have in some of these pictures; Neptune made me do it. Dad, the world cup started!!! Don’t forget to record some games!