Location: Underway to Palau
The day began with a 3:30 am wake-up for watch team 2. We walked up on deck to a sky full of the most incredible stars Ive ever seen. I took over the bow watch for the first shift. There was something so freeing about being at the forefront most part of Vela, sailing through a vast ocean with no land for hundreds of miles. The sky looked as though there was no barrier between the horizon and the water, as if it were one continuous area of water that one could dive into. Our watch team pointed out constellations, Venus, and the many shooting stars that passed until sunrise.
We later began our deck walk for seamanship, where we started from the stern and named all of the sails and lines on the boat, such as the downhaul, sheets, mermaid lines, etc. While this was happening, we spotted several objects in the water, which we quickly realized were some >100 pilot whales! The engine was put in neutral, and everyone gathered to watch. They were very curious, often spy-hopping by bobbing their heads above water to get a peek at Vela and her crew. A few even swam underneath the bowsprits as we excitedly looked down to see. Sam flew Barnibe (the drone) to get a better look at the pod and all of the babies!
An hour or so after the whales said goodbye, we all took an ocean shower. The water was calm, and by far the best conditions weve had during passage. There is something so magical about diving off a sailboat in the glassy water of the doldrums with no wind or current. I floated for a bit and would sometimes dive down, knowing there were thousands of meters below, surrounded by nothing but blue and vastness.
After dinner, we continued our course to Palau, which we were expected to reach by late morning tomorrow! A bittersweet ending passage. After three weeks of rough seas, sail handling, Drews birthday, equator crossing and sacrifices, many watches in the pouring rain, many watches in the sweltering heat, many nights stargazing and experiencing this incredible adventure with all my now closest friends, I can confidently say that this passage will be one that I will forever remember.
-Luna