Location: Fiji to Palau
Today began, as all days do, at midnight. Watch Team One and I were on for the midnight to 4 AM watch under a full moon with no wind. The conversation was lively, and the time flew by. Olivia, Beck, Sidney, Joshua, Emily, and Maverick all shared their favorite songs, and some deep questions were asked of the group. Some examples: how do you clean your life jacket on deck, when you need to wear your life jacket on deck? Why are there so many live-action adaptations of cartoons coming out now? Do you ever feel like a clove hitch in a half-hitch world? That last one is from Maverick; truly a quote of the semester.
Later on, the boat took a few big rolls, and a bowl of MandMs erupted all over the galley floor. The morning came and went. Watch Team Three vacuum all of the water out of the bilges, a ritual that will surely be repeated later, again and again. Our new wet vacuum, unfortunately, has wheels and has a mind of its own when the boat is moving. Docklines got dried and stowed in the anchor locker, and both staysails were raised for stability. Tonight at dinner, I asked my favorite squeeze question: “Between the person on your left and the person on your right, who would win in a duel? It can be any kind of duel.” Here are some answers: Steph vs. Kelsey in a duel of hide and seek: Kelsey wins Anna vs. Kackie in a watermelon game battle: Kackie wins Austin vs. Joshua in a light saber battle: Joshua wins Iain vs Elanore in a sumo fight: Elanore wins Olivia and Emily in a soap eating duel: Emily wins but only barely Casey vs Will in a duel to the death: Casey wins Let’s hope it never comes to this, and that we always know how to put aside our differences.