Whooville
Location: Pacific Ocean
Despite our potential impending weather from a passing low-pressure system to the North of us, I opened my eyes to clear skies, calm seas, and bright sunshine. A luxury I did not think I would enjoy in this final week of passage. As fate would have it, this provided the optimal conditions for our wonderful Captain Shane to give the order to drop sails, throttle back, and let us all cool down in the ocean! A welcome reprieve for many from the rather warm conditions on board Argo at the moment. Furthermore, a nice way for our students to wind down after all the learning, studying, and practicing they have done for various Navmaster and Marine Bio exams recently.
Before this, however, Watch Team 3 started the day by appearing on deck dressed in white. We opted for this coordination as my dear fellow Watch Team Leader, Jack, does this every year in his town (that we have nicknamed Whooville), where they have dinner parties and watch the fireworks on July 3rd ahead of their July 4th celebrations. We decided that, as he couldn’t be there, we would commemorate it ourselves on board and throw a sunset party on the foredeck. Funky music, moderately cool lemonade, and good vibes transported us into our own little world as the sun dipped past the horizon. Naturally, we took a photo to record the moment (see attached).
This, however, has not been the most eventful part of the last 24 hours. … Last night on Watch Team 3’s 12-4 am watch, we were greeted by some friendly avian hitchhikers. So friendly in fact that upon moving into our spreaders and triatic, they decided to redecorate the place (more specifically the deck) with new fragrant white and black paint. This was only made worse when Isaac tried to scare them away at the end of our watch as we were being relieved by Watch Team 1, who were subsequently rained down upon by these birds, with guano hitting them and going straight down various open companion way hatches. It became clear what the morning’s chores would bring: a deck wash.
Boat Assassin has also been in full swing today, with the day claiming 3 more lives. One of which is my own, as I was betrayed by my very own watch team member, Skye, who requested help on a boat check in the middle of the night as she heard a suspicious alarm coming from the bilge. She had to catch me down below in a specific cabin holding a diving chart and managed to do so by concealing it inside the boat check clipboard. The plan was so brilliant and well-executed that I could not even be mad. My only frustration is that I had a devious plan to catch my own target, which I did not enact in time. ... Rachel, our Program Manager, has also been busy at work, assassinating Ella just as she was sitting down for her Navmaster exam and then going on to assist Sophie in the assassination of our Captain, Shane! (Never a dull moment on Argo).
As I write this, I am finishing my first-ever cup of Horchata, a traditional Mexican beverage made from rice water, cinnamon, sugar & milk, crafted by our talented chefs for the day, Isaac, Noelle, and Kaya. This wonderfully complemented our Mexican-themed dinner of Taco bowls and provided necessary hydration after a hot day.
Another wonderful day at sea, and now I shall depart for my 8pm - 12 am watch, where my team is waiting for me. We are cruising along at 7kts, and I am looking forward to playing some games with them up on deck while we ensure Argo safely chugs along as everyone else sleeps.
Good night all (and good morning to my loved ones back in the UK who are just waking up!)
Lots of love xxx
Jen