Location: Atlantic Ocean
Ease the preventer. Take in the sheet! Echoed across the deck and down through the hatches as we slipped quietly through the water under just the power of our sails. I checked my watch, 0730. I guess its time to get up to do a boat check before the start of my 8-12 watch. I finished my boat check and moseyed up on deck to see that watch team 3 had successfully jibed, and we were now heading a little further south to hook into some cleaner trade wind breeze. Watch team 1 relieved watch team three and took over the final sail adjustments of the jibe. Watson hopped to the Sampson post to tail our newly rigged downwind preventer. Chloe, Talia, Boston, Ruby, and Eduardo sweat the preventer, and Grace C eased the sheet. There is nothing I love seeing more than the forward staysail sheeted out as far as she can go with the flying jib soaring overhead. After we had all the sails set out on a port tack, we settled back into the cockpit to stand by the rest of the watch. Two by two, people went down below to get their fix of coffee and breakfast. Everyone is a little worried about an oceanography quiz coming up today but lucky for them, marine scientist Mich is on our watch and could quiz everyone on the topics.
After a hot 8-12 watch under the tropical sun, everyone scurried down below for class. First, it was Oceanography, followed by Seamanship. In Seamanship, we are finishing up our Navigation master unit, a unit that consists of a deep dive into navigation techniques using only paper charts and charting instruments. Its quite a difficult unit, but everyone seems prepared for the test!
Finally at 6, we had dinner, a delicious green curry with some world class Nan made by Max and Lukas.
The squeeze question for tonight: if both animals were trying to eat you, would you rather run from a hippopotamus in a lightly wooded glen or be chased by a Cheetah, but you get a 110 cc dirt bike?
There is only one right answer.
Until next time,
Mac
To my family and Sam, Passage A has been unbelievable. There has been so much sailing and some cool wildlife, too. I miss you all so much, and I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving. I wish I could be there for the dinner! I love you all so much.