I’m a Bald Eagle
October 23, 2022
Kelly Morgan, Assistant Scientist
(Left to right, back to front: Kelly, Matt (undercut), Chloe, Charolette, Tierney, Captain Kevo, Ali, Stella, Bird, Morgan, Kris, Parker, Calvin, Henry, Craig-/+Nate).
Ship's Log
Noon Position
07?33.5 S X 137?51.0 W
Ship Heading
185
Ship Speed
9 knots
Taffrail Log
3290 nm
Weather / Wind / Sail Plan
FULL SAIL THIS IS NOT A DRILL. WE ARE SAILING UNDER THE FOUR LOWERS (MAINS'L, MAIN STAYS'L, FORESTAYS'L, JIB), A FULL STACK (COURSE, TOP'SL, RAFFEE) JIB TOP'SL, AND THE FIIIIIISH!!!
Description of location
South of the Equator, 75 nm from Ua Huka!
Before four days ago I only ever knew the pleasure of rubbing somebody else’s bristly, clean-shaven head hair. Now, I am intimately familiar with the elation in sliding my hands all over my own head to feel that blissful texture. And yes, it’s what you might think - I can’t stop touching it.
In fact, I’m not alone. My sixteen other bald brothers and sisters on board can’t stop stroking their spikes either. And you know what, the other twenty-three people on board want to touch it too.
The real zinger is how great we all look. I’m sure some of you reading this have doubt of mind but trust me when I say egg heads were meant for the open ocean.
We can feel the wind on our bare noggins, tell the direction based on which bristle it’s blowing. We can sense the noon sun on our uncrowned coronas, align the celestial zenith with the nadir on intuition.
Less hair means less drag. We sail faster, higher. We’re bald eagles in flight over water.
Like a flock, our buzzes bob together, silhouetted by the blue. If we didn’t know before, we belong to each other. What happened on that blessed day we sailed across the equator bonded us as bald brethren. And I’d do it all again if it meant I could convince fifteen more people to do it with me.
For those of you wondering if your loved one will be changed by this experience when they return home: we haven’t simply changed, we have evolved.
As they say, birds of the same feather fly together. We may not have feathers, but we’re flying above the rest. Here’s to my fellow baldies, caw caw!
Kelly Morgan, Assistant Scientist
4 Comments
Leave A Comment
Planned cruise track EEZs/MPAs
Author: Mira Stephens, Carleton College Ship's Log Date: 27 September 2023Time: 12:37Location: 17 46. 293 S, 177 22.871 E, docked in Nadi, FijiWeather: Wind out of the [...]
And So It begins…A Bit Delayed
Author: Chief Scientist Jan Witting Ship's Log Date: 26 September 2023Time: 0800Location: Dockside in Port Denarau, Fiji Bula from S311 aboard the Robert C. [...]
The Shroud of Darkness and the Shrouds Aloft
August 14, 2023 A Watch Ship's Log Noon Position 41deg 26.5621'N x 069deg 59.7757'W Ship Heading 195 degrees Ship Speed 4.2 knots Log 399.7 nm Weather [...]
Musings from C Watch
August 13, 2023 Lily Li Ship's Log Noon Position 41 deg 08.3' N x 068 deg 34.5'W Log 302.6 nautical miles Weather / Wind / Sail [...]
HA! Well done. Takes guts!
love these photos! you all look so boldly bald.
“A good leg will fall, a straight back will stoop, a black beard will turn white, a curled pate will grow bald, a fair face will wither, a full eye will wax hollow. But a good heart…is the sun and moon…for it shines bright and never changes, but keeps its course truly.” Henry V, Act V, Scene 2
“Because it is a blessing that he bestows on beasts, and what he hath scanted men in hair, he hath given them in wit.” Comedy of Errors II, 2
Good on ya’, mates!
You and your crew are champs Kelly! Watching in awe from a very different and mountainous place. Sending love and safety to you. 🙂