Location: Vela
On our 24:00-04:00 watch, we talked about films and some other things we no longer remember. We tacked to avoid a lightning storm and lost the wind completely, so we had to use the engine again at 2 knots speed. We also had to avoid fishing boats (Drew calls them the most annoying boats). Watch teams 3 and 1 got drenched on watch while we were sleeping. Part of watch team 2 got up early to study for the Oceanography exam together before lunch. We came up on deck to see birds flying around the boat and water. We also saw the coast of Panama. William said he saw Dolphins at lunch, but no one else did (we all agreed they were never there). After lunch, I helmed for the third time on this trip and actually found it very enjoyable this time and did not want to stop. While helming, Drew and I agreed German motorways are the best, and Lexi (from Canada) does not comprehend how you can drive without a speed limit. We saw Turtles and Dolphins several times throughout the day too. Steph was jumping excitedly, as usual. Everyone else was still excited to see them jumping out of the water too, but no longer as much as we use to be, as we had been spoiled by tons of dolphins on this passage.
We have been doing a lot of sailing maneuvers along the coast today as we are sailing upwind without the engine due to the damaged propeller. We have all learned a lot these past days and are getting better at handling the sails, as we are constantly tacking (You might be able to see the zigzag lines on the tracker.). Tom complemented our sailing skills (he only told watch team 2, the best watch team). We managed to tack completely by ourselves today without assistance from the staff.
After lunch, we got free time for studying, sleeping, or other things. Most people were sleeping or working on their Seamanship and Oceanography presentations as well as studying for the Oceanography exam that has been postponed to tomorrow. Some of us were also just enjoying time on deck and reading. I was revising knots on deck with help from watch team 3. Miles, Ted, and Fargo were working on videos/skits for their presentation and are very proud of their results. That we will get to judge tomorrow.
After dinner, we reefed the main sail together (no watch team discrimination) and enjoyed the sunset, which was beautiful and set in front of the bow. The squeeze question was, “what can’t you do that others find easy.” Three people could not whistle (Cosmo, William, and Allie). They ended the squeeze together by failing at whistling. We also learned Ula wasn’t able to blow her nose as a child. Gubby and I have been deemed physically incompetent, as she is unable to do sit-ups, and I can’t do push-ups.
As I am writing the blog, the deckie team is dancing on deck, and Charlie is spraying water at me through the closed porthole. Steph is also worked-up about not being able to take a shower before watch starts and is screaming around in the chart house. She had 7 minutes to shower, and the water just went out and had to be cycled. Matt and Allie are also confused by me being clipped into the chart house due to a traumatic event on watch. So, I am currently a tripping hazard.
It has been a very relaxing day in general, and everyone seems to have enjoyed it.