17-Feb
0000
Ship’s Log: All secure at anchor in Tahpuke Bay, Russel, Bay of Islands, with 1.5 shot of chain to the port hook in 7m of water, 0.18nm from shore. Anchor watch set as per standing and night orders.
Ship’s Position: 35°16.4’S 174°7.1’E, Voyage: 187 nm
Anchor watch set tonight, only an hour per person, meaning more great sleep. Boarded small boats at 7:00 to catch the ferry from Russel to Pahia. Russel reminded my distinctly of a tropical Martha’s Vineyard. Traveled to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where New Zealand was officially founded, and saw a waka (canoe) almost as long as our ship! After discussing modern sentiments about the Treaty, we saw a performance of the Maori haka (war dance) and some contemporary song. Returned to Russel and hung out around the waterfront as sailors are wont to do.
Mama Seamans and all her glory and a modern built Maori waka
18-Feb
1900
Ship’s Log: C watch relieves B watch motorsailing on a port tack under stays’ls and shallow reefed main, steering 115 PSC, turning 1250 rpm, making 7.3 kts (woo!), Wind NExN F3, seas NExN 3-5;, Skies 1/8 Ac/Cu
Ship’s Position: 35°24.3’S 174°53.9’E, 8nm ExN of Poor Knights Islands, Voyage: 231 nm
Let Field Day begin! Today we embark on our battle against the evil mung with sponges and squeegees in hand. More than our daily Dawn Cleanup (the responsibility of that day’s morning watch), Field Day is the chance to clean every crevice; every vertical horizontal diagonal and upside down surface; every inch, of our home, to ward off the accumulation of a week’s dirt and grime. This was also the chance to bring out our music for the first time this trip and blast it over stereos. After a successful battle and a quick swim call, we hauled anchor and headed out to sea. C watch took the deck at 19:00, with clear skies: the milky way so clear above us, with Orion and the Southern Cross guiding our way to Wellington.
Swim call and our busy sailors motoring out of Bay of Islands
19-Feb
2300
Ship’s Log: Sailing on a broad reach, port tack, under four lowers w/a shallow reefed (s.r.), prevented main, steering 110 PSC, making 4.2 kts, wind NxW F4, seas ENE 2-4’. Nav lights illuminated.
Ship’s Position: 36°44.6’S 176°43.2’E, 32nm ENE of the Alderman Islands, Voyage: 359 nm
Realizing how much time we spend each day just in the process of cleaning. Deck wash today: I discovered how much dirt is hiding even in the railings. Sightings of albatross today, the wind was low today, but picked up to a fine sailing breeze by nightfall. Tonight we found the celestial G with our mate Sara, and constellations like Tauros, Leo, and Gemini. The neuston tow over the side was glowing with bioluminescence as we hauled it aboard.
An introduction to the daily watch schedule: Dawn Watch (0300-0700), Morning Watch (0700-1300), Afternoon Watch (1300-1900), Evening Watch (1900-2300), Mid Watch (2300-0300). 3 watch groups rotate through the five watches, keeping the schedule fresh.
Sunrise over the Pacific
20-Feb
1300
Ship’s Log: Sailing on a close reach, stbd tack under 4 lowers w/a s.r. main and jib tops’l. Steering 160 PSC making 4.0 kts, wind W’ly
Ship’s Position: 37°12.5’S 177°6.9’E, 19nm N of White Island, Bay of Plenty, Voyage: 411 nm
Learned today that we are taking a detour on our journey around the North Island to Whakaari (White Island), New Zealand’s most active volcano! We saw steam spewing from the Island from afar, and it grew on the horizon over the day. Spent the afternoon in engineering learning about the support systems aboard the ship, like the main engine, watermakers, generators, and refrigeration systems. Watched the sun set behind White Island, giving a great view into the crater.
White Island over the stbd quarter and sunset behind the steam cloud
21-Feb
1900
Ship’s Log: Sailing under all fore & aft sails w/a s.r. main, wind N’ly F3, seas NxE 3-5’, steering 040 PSC, making 2.3 kts
Ship’s Position: 36°37.9’S 178°45.8’E, 65nm N of East Cape, Voyage: 540 nm
Dawn Watch day: means Dawn Cleanup and Galley Cleanup tonight. Went aloft today! Climbing the ratlines and shrouds up the form’st. Just training today, so we scurried down again. Evening watch tonight, struck the fisherman stays’l and jib tops’l and double gybed for science. A late-night hydrocast attracted squid to our deck lights. Figured out how to get underway by ourselves! Steering by Hadar and Rigel Cantares: the pointers to the Southern Cross.
An introduction to the daily cleaning schedule: Dawn watch, Dawn Cleanup of ship, incl. soles (floors), heads, showers; Morning watch, deck scrub; Evening watch, Galley Cleanup
Water over the portholes and labbies hard at work
22-Feb
2300
Ship’s Log: Sailing on a port tack under four lowers (4L) and a shallow reefed, prevented main, steering 175 PSC, making 6.4 kts, Wind NExE F4 ousting F5, seas NE’ly 4-6’, Skies 2/8 Cu
Ship’s Position: 37°59.1’S 179°33.6’E, 51 nm ESE of East Cape, Voyage: 630 nm
23-Feb
1300
Ship’s Log: Sailing on a broad reach, port tack under 4L and s.r. main, Steering 175 PSC, making 7.5 kts, Wind ExN F5, seas E’ly 5-7’
Ship’s Position: 39°7.3’S 179°19.7’E, 62nm E of Table Cape, Mahia Peninsula, Voyage: 702 nm
I enjoyed my Sleep of Kings (the luxurious time to sleep after mid watch until afternoon class). Making almost 8 kts under sail! Got to dump the food trash today: a truly enlightening experience. People working out or doing crosswords for entertainment.
No comments:
Post a Comment