Location: BVI to Horta
Yesterday evening found much of Argos crew up later than usual. After preparing the boat for a forecasted gale from a low-pressure system to our west, many students from watch teams 2 & 3 were in the salon pen in hand, adding finishing touches (or in some cases just getting started) on their essay due the next morning. Team 1 had the con for the 8-12 evening watch. The wind was meant to increase through the night, and the team eagerly awaited its arrival. Lighthearted conversation helped pass the time. Four hours passed, and no wind came.
Our next shift at 8 am found the vessel in much the same state as we left it. Light air from the southwest, the gale was not to be. The sky was filled with crazy cloud formations, and it was clear the weather was quite confused. Swell came in from multiple directions and led to the boats French press taking a dive off the hot box. A funeral and memorial service for the main source of coffee will be held in the coming days. My team found a flying fish on deck and set about surprising me by raising it up the flag halyard. I happen to love puns and, since we have a sail named the fishermans sail, I loved it when they said, Shane, look! We raised the Fish!
Lunch was some delicious black bean burritos prepared by Alex, Meg, and Charlie. Classes consisted of the final lecture on chart plotting and untying human knots. As I write, we have just finished another lovely curry mea,l and it looks like we are in for a wonderful sunset over the deep blue Atlantic water.