Location: Underway to Cape Town
Good Morning from Port Elizabeth (kind of). Today was a sad wake-up. Not because I woke up way too early or scrubbed the deck at 8:30 (which is secretly one of my favorite things to do on the boat) but because its my last day as skipper. To be frank, it was a day I didnt think would ever come. A fact about me is that Im a planner to my core. I love to-do lists and schedules, so post my first skipper day I put in my calendar every one that was to come, so I could be prepared. The seventh of December felt like forever away; now its not only December, but its the last week of the program.
But here we are. Tears are a common occurrence in Allies class as we talk about life after this. My first blog was titled Nothing on Earth but Argo, and that has never felt more true than now. Is there really a world outside of here? What am I going to do when the sentence lets go home no longer means a 30-meter schooner at the end of the commercial dock? Its going to be weird hugging my parents when I get home, just as tight as I did my shipmates on my departure. But how beautiful is it to have something so hard to say goodbye to?
Im proud to say Im not the same person I was 85 days ago. That girl who got on the plane back home, never having flown solo before, leaving my parents whom I had seen just about every day for my entire life, carrying an overweight duffel bag that I somehow convinced my taxi driver to help with down the abnormally long dock in the pitch black nightshe knew very little. I still know very little, but I have now grown in my confidence, my relationships, and in my faith.
I understand that was just a massive word dump but bear with me, I havent had a normal sleep schedule in three months.
But many of you arent here to read about my feelings.
Ive spent my last three blogs talking about exactly that.
Ill give you what you came here for.
I have not had one skipper day ashore, docked, or even anchored. Every one of them consisted of a horizon all around, crystal blue waters, and a very hot sun. But today was a little different. The nice cool breeze that not once left us today.
For watch team one (Kiley, Juliette, Travis, and Bodhi), the day started at 00:00 for a smooth departure from Port Elizabeth. The day finally came when we were really going to Cape Town. Followed by watch team two (Amanda, Drazka, Charlie, and Hannah), who repeatedly saw many seals. By the time the 8-12 watch rolled around, watch team three (Ava, Ali (young and pretty), Philip, and me) were looking forward to breakfast, seals, and a deck wash.
Following Avas famous bagels for lunch, we made it down to the salon for an Oceanography review. Just as Gabe came down to give us back our ICC tests, we were all called on deck to put up the FJ (flying jib). Much to our surprise, once we got up on deck, we were informed we would be putting up the Fish, the sail we had put up only once before. The AWS has to be just right to call for the Fish. No less than 12 knots because then we will just have to deal with the annoying flapping of the sail not being full, but if it gets into the high twenties, it can become much too dangerous to take down. So, putting it up today, in our last passage, is a treat, to say the least.
The last class of the day was Leadership, which I gave a rundown of during my reflection time at the beginning of this blog. Often, it is the class Im looking forward to the most, the one that I feel has really helped me grow.
Dinner was chicken, broccoli, tomatoes, mozzarella, and spicy potatoes. The fishs time came to an end post-clean-up. As we now near 7 knots of apparent wind, the engine is our saving grace to get us to Cape Town in time for our flights home.
Thank you to everyone who has kept up with our adventure, who are avid readers of the blog, and especially those who have made it through all the life lessons Ive shared over a satellite.
If anyone from my Argo family is reading this when they are back home and no longer just a watertight door away, thank you for being the best strangers, roommates, crewmates, and family that I could ask for. I love Argo and her Argonauts more than words could describe.
And lastly, to Mom, Dad, and Ellie, Ill see you so so soon under Christmas lights and with lots of snow (hopefully)
With all my love,
Ainsley