Ready for the Work to Come

Author: Ava, C Watch, 2nd Mate

1300. C watch takes the deck. After having our first watch underway in the dark last night (1900-0100) it’s nice to see everyone in the daylight! What a difference twelve hours makes. When we mustered for debrief at 0100 during a reprieve between squall clouds, our watch had been put to the test.

Fashionably Safe (Nate, Reba, Sydney, Katherine & Rocky)

We spotted the first tiny burst of rain on the radar 10 minutes after taking the deck, informed the captain, and promptly executed a gybe to dodge the imminent rain and stiff breeze. I was pretty impressed by the line handling skills exhibited by our green hands so early in the voyage, and it set my mind at ease that we would be ready for the work to come. It proved to be a pretty wet evening despite our best efforts to navigate around the developing line of rain that is a hallmark of the tropics, and the team rallied for every call. Nothing like a cool shower to keep you awake!

Despite the clouds, we managed to strike and furl the jib, clean the galley, and sail a Neuston tow for the first time, all in the dark! Today is a whole different ballgame: navigating to the entrance of Pillsbury Sound en route to make our anchorage in Francis Bay by sunset (dinner time!) It’s great to be underway, get into the routine, and see the watch function as a team, everyone pitching in to accomplish the goals of the watch and dealing with circumstances as they arise.

First ever mains’l furl! (Ava, Sydney, Reba, Tegan, Gabriella, Ella, Sofia, Sil & Beanz)

We’re all looking forward to a restful night at anchor when we arrive at our destination tonight!

- Ava, C Watch, 2nd Mate

PS. Happy birthday Allison and Pawpaw! Shout out to Jenna’s Mom and Aunt!

Contact: Douglas Karlson, Director of Communications, 508-444-1918 | dkarlson@sea.edu