31°06.7’S 075°23.1’W Course: 355° | Speed: 7 knots
We’ve been underway for nearly a week now. The routine of night watches, sunrises, sunsets, and life at sea is slowly settling in. Though we haven’t had much chance to sail yet, we’re making steady progress—and with every passing day, we feel more in tune with life on board.
After all the extra work getting the jib boom sorted and saying farewell to land, it’s good to feel the rhythm return. Little habits are creeping in again: who grabs the helm first when watch starts, how we all get a bit peckish just before mealtime, and how we start looking forward to our night snack while lunch is still being cleared away.
With the sea stretching out around us, we’ve returned to the quiet tasks that come with long ocean passages. We checked the safety gear, aired out the survival suits (sunny days are for drying!), and ran a ship’s drill.
Today’s fire drill started simple. I like to think drills should become muscle memory—not just a test of knowledge, but a chance to train your brain to preform an action without thought. The “fire” was contained in the saloon, and within four minutes, the crew had mustered, extinguished the blaze, and run hoses to the deck. Next time, we’ll turn up the heat a little more…
We spotted a few whale spouts today—too far off to tell what kind—but thrilling all the same. Black-browed albatrosses soared by, along with a few white-chinned petrels and a lone prion. Two seals showed off beside us, floating on their backs with flippers in the air like they were waving us on. Of course, we waved back.
The sun stayed with us most of the day, and morale soared along with it. One of our guest crew toasted a loved one’s birthday back home with a drink at dinner—a small but heartfelt celebration.
Michael, our magician in the galley, treated us to yesterday’s baking: a fluffy blueberry cake with whipped cream in the afternoon, followed in the evening by sweet popcorn for dessert. Did I sleep poorly after all that sugar? Yes. Was it absolutely worth it? Also yes.
Picture of the day by Bob, with a spectacular moon bow!
All is well on board.
– Jet
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