Weather Comes In!
Location: Sardegna
The scene for the day was set by the weather. Thunderstorms and winds with sustained gusts over 30 knots were forecasted to be building throughout the day and into the evening.
In preparation for the incoming weather, a number of precautions were taken. The crew organized the deck of Vela, ensuring that anything that could be blown away was stored properly and any dried clothes on the lines were brought into the cabin.
First Mate Mac organized a team at the bow as he and Captain Tom set a second anchor as a precaution. Winds increased throughout the day. However, Vela remained strong and stable in the bay.
After Zoe and Emma prepared a breakfast of strawberry shortcake, the shipmates undertook a plankton and sea life analysis of the water around Vela and on her hull while conditions were still allowed. This was part of an ongoing project throughout the term in the Oceanography course with staff Michelle and Shelby and allowed the students to compare marine life from different parts of the globe.
With the weather patterns getting windier throughout the day and into the afternoon, it provided a relaxed day inside the comfort of Vela's salon with the movie Moana playing and shipmates hanging out together. Those who ventured out to the cockpit were greeted with a fresh, brisk breeze and choppy seas. These conditions were a welcomed change for many on board.
Throughout the day, however, students also stayed engaged with their studies and worked toward their academic classes, final exams, and presentations. In the evening, one group of shipmates had a particularly significant exam. Our PSCT candidates had a 90-minute exam to complete on Navigation. This was a critical exam for those who wanted to pursue their 200 Gross Ton Captains certification, and it was a challenging test they had been preparing for all trips. With the strong leadership of the instructors and the hard work of the students, the exams were completed within the time limit, and all passed the requisite benchmarks.
While the day was complete, the work continued with students maintaining anchor watch throughout to ensure that the vessel remained in a safe position, firmly anchored.