Location: Banda Sea
Today started at 12 am when I officially became known as Earnest Hemingway. You may be wondering how I donned this name, as Ive always been called Grace Berry. Well, I earned this persona by completing a solo helm for our entire four-hour watch – and upon completion, I got to choose my Helm-sona. I was able to do this with the support of my incredible watch team (shout-out watch team two: Everett, Max, Claire, Harrison, Clam, Sadie, Fiona, Nacho, and Emma) and Everetts verbal recount of the entire Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie. Later, we had an incredible 8 am-12 pm watch, and the day officially started with wake-ups and some pasta salad for lunch. After some soaking up the sun and a super speedy dishy pit, it was time for leadership class. Jack led the group through two activities, and we started by doing a group reading about a team of sailors venturing through the Arctic. Our second activity was a debate challenge, where we assigned teams and had to argue whether head showers or ocean showers were superior. I was assigned team one – in support of ocean showers- and we spent 15 minutes strategizing and preparing our potential rebuttals. Soon after, we headed up to the cockpit for the official debate. Skye started the debate with an opening statement for team two, but Claire fired back with a strong opening in support of our argument. Next, it was time for witness examinations and cross-examinations (if there are any lawyers back home, we would like you to know that we are aware that this is not how you are supposed to debate; however, Jack was the judge and he wanted his own personal episode of Argo Law and Order). Sophie and I were the witnesses for team one, and we were prepared for any question thrown our way. Then, we got to examine the other team and fired the questions at team two. Finally, I was voluntold to do the closing statement for team one, so I presented our argument, our response to team twos points, and a conclusion to our statement. After team twos closing argument in support of head showers, the jury (staff) gathered and announced the winner. While Team Two took the win during the examination round, Team One won the opening and closing statements, making us the overall winner (WOOHOO). As leadership class had ended, the second round of NavMaster exams and rescue emergency action planning began. I must say – a very eventful day in the classroom.
Around 5:20 pm, I began ushering people to the cockpit for dinner when I was startled by an eruption of screams, WHALES OFF OUR PORT BOW! I immediately grabbed my phone and booked it to the bowsprit to see a cloud of mist and a large gray back moving through the water. Everyone made their way on deck, and soon there wasnt a section of the port side that wasnt filled with eager whale spotters. Jack also sent his drone up and got an amazing video of the whale feeding. Eventually, we had to bid the whales goodbye and headed to the cockpit for dinner. Josie and her sous chef, Harrison, and Jen prepared chicken tacos, which marked a flavorful end to the day. As dinner came to a close, we watched the green flash (AGAIN), and the entire crew finally got to see it (no more green flash deniers on Argo). Overall, today has been one of my favorite days on passage – and I cant wait to see what Komodo has in store.
Love you Mom, Dad, and Liam <3
Cant wait to share more pictures and videos! Enjoy your diving on the other side of the world!
Grace (Earnest Helmingway)