Casting off

Jack Goodman, C Watch, University of Vermont

Hi all!

I’m Jack Reporting from the Main Salon aboard the SSV Robert C. Seamans.

After a handful of fun-packed days of snorkeling, science/ sailing knowledge rotations & small boat sailing We have pulled up our anchors and set sail! It’s been an interesting transition so far from calm protected waters out into the rough open ocean. My morning started with dawn anchor watch followed by a quick all hands muster on the Quarter Deck to wave goodbye to our temporary home in Rangiroa.

More than a few of us are a little green around the gills as the Seamans rolls through much higher seas than we’ve been accustomed to thus far, but after a few days at sea it should be smooth sailing (pun fully intended).

We are all very excited to see the water bits of the world and learn a good deal about seamanship. There are so many sails to learn, knots to tie, and of course a good deal of science equipment to get a handle on. Today we can begin gathering data and specimen from our carousel of sensors/ Niskin bottles and neuston tows for our varied research topics. I’ve heard rumors that we’ll be lowering both off the science deck sometime during my next watch starting at 1900.

Time is nothing on board and yet everything. It seems like we just boarded and found our bunks just yesterday. We keep to tight schedule and our days are either 18 or 72 hours, depending on how you view it. If we aren’t on one of our 6-hour watches or in class, most of us can be found relaxing & trying to beat the heat, reading, and chatting on deck, etc. otherwise probably catching up on some much-needed rest.

There is so much more to tell but I have chores coming up in just a few minutes followed by class at 1600 then C watch will have some time before we begin our night watch 1900-0100.

Quick shout out to my mom, dad, and sister as well as Brody, Brooks, and Slash. I hope you’re all doing well, and I’ll see you sooner than you know with more than a few seafaring yarns of my own. Love you!!!

Till next time, this is Jack Signing off.

Keep a weather eye on the horizon.

Jack Goodman, C Watch, University of Vermont