Location: Pacific Ocean
The last full day of passage proved to be one of the most exciting and eventful days of this whole adventure. I was awoken at 7:30 and hastily prepared for my 8-to-12 watch. At 7:55, I, along with the rest of watch team 2, gathered in the cockpit for our morning watch. At the last minute, I decided to do my long-awaited helmsona, in which I would helm Argo for the entire 4 hours of watch. I was hesitant at first, fearful that I might get bored or tired, but that fear quickly dissolved because, as per usual, there is never a dull moment with watch team 2. In usual watch team 2 fashion, we immediately began playing music and singing (one of our favorite watch pass times). As if that didnt provide enough entertainment, about 2 hours in, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye and looked to my starboard side to see a pod of dolphins jumping out of the water! The rest of the watch passed by in a blur with more singing and covering ourselves in zinc in preparation for the upcoming Neptune court talent show. I earned my helmsona name “helmed rivarly” (if you know, you know). We ate everyone’s favorite Argo lunch, a big bowl of mac and cheese, and the festivities began. On Argo, we have a tradition where, after passing over the equator, we have to present a sacrifice and a talent to “Neptune’s court.” Those who don’t earn the favor of Neptune’s court get baptized in the dirty dishwasher from the day’s lunch.
Nerves were high as we all sat in the salon singing and waiting to be called upon by Neptune’s court. Once the talent show started, the laughing never stopped. My favorite watch, teammate, and singing buddy, Amy, and I were the second act. Singing a mashup of some iconic songs and giving them a little Argo flare, not only did we dazzle the crowd with our amazing voices, but we also performed a reenactment of our favorite Titanic scene. As expected, our performance earned us thumbs up across the board from Neptune’s court, saving us from the disgusting dishy pit bath. After Neptune’s court, we cleaned up our bunks in preparation for our arrival in port tomorrow and ate a delicious dinner. Though the passage was one of the most challenging experiences of my life, it was also easily one of the most rewarding. Passage isn’t even over, and I already find myself missing watch team talks at 2 am and the chaos that follows a broken staysail at 8 in the morning. Every day of passage was a challenge, but I wouldn’t trade a single one for the world. The bonds I formed with my watchteam members are now some of the most special relationships in my life, every day I will miss our endless giggles, beatiful singing voices, and even the silence that follows an early wake up. Special shout-out to some of my favorite people, the members of watch team 2 (Nacho, Emma, Amy, Max, Julian, Faith, Shay, Juliet, and Sadie). I can’t wait for the adventures that await us in Palau, but I will always cherish the memories we made in our 3 weeks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
To my family, I miss you tons and can’t wait to fill you in on all the craziness that has been passage, and of course, love you guys!