Location: Tenerife, Canary Islands
Today marks our last day on land before we set off into the Atlantic. After days of prepping, provisioning, and making sure Argo has everything she needs to cross an ocean, the day has finally come. This morning began with some time on shore to grab that last cappuccino or make a call home before we headed out to sea. Back on board, we finished up with some final passage prep, checking the rig and offloading any trash before we headed out. Will, Stick, and Del cheffed it up in the galley, and we had tuna sandwich wraps before heading off the dock. Then the engine started up, lines were thrown, and Argo and her crew said goodbye to land until the Caribbean. As we headed out, we had some minutes of silence to welcome this journey we were about to set out on. Looking around, gratitude filled the space for this boat, this crew, and this ocean that we get to sail across. And then! The sorting hat! With new watch teams on the horizon, we had a special visit from the watch team Sorting Hat. One by one, the hat sorted our crew with its magical powers into new watch teams, and we are now set for the crossing.
As we headed below to get ready for class in the afternoon, the salon filled with the ringing bell of the fire alarm, and we mustered for a fire drill with our new watch team responsibilities. After running through the drill and preparing to abandon the ship, we headed back down to class for Marine Bio. The class took us right up until dinner, and we had the sun setting over Tenerife as we ate tofu curry and virgin Pina Coladas to celebrate Gordon’s birthday. Big shoutout to Gordon for turning 20 today!! We celebrated with lots of happy birthdays, wonderful birthday cakes, granola bars (thank you, Gordon’s mom), and a massive cookie cake courtesy of Del. What. A. Day.