Current position of the SSV Corwith Cramer. Click on the vessel to view position history. Use the layer tools, top right, to change the map style or to view data layers. Dates and times use GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).

SEA Currents: SSV Corwith Cramer

Stacie Bellairs, B Watch, Whitman College

This is me leading out the CTD for deployment today! It went down 650 meters and collected salinity, temperature and density profiles—very cool!

Currently, I am sitting in the salon with some B Watch friends, Ella, Eileen and Jill and we are deliberating the Bobby C’s most recent hair phenomenon: the Princess Leia buns (a.k.a. the cinnabuns, or Miley Cyrus buns). Our captain, Elliot, cautioned that our hair should always be up to avoid dangerous spinning winches/machines in the engine room, and this was one of the many styles that he recommended. Maggie and I were the first to sport this look and it quickly caught on after we appeared in the salon, a common hang out spot when we are not sleeping and want to snack on any of the baked goods that seem to be constantly available.

In other news, Happy Leap Year! We tried to celebrate this 29th day of February today on the ship, but we weren’t quite sure how. Madison made a delicious apple pie and we had New Zealand lamb for dinner, so I guess that will do. In other news of leaping, we are in deep waters, rounding the corner of the North Island—leaving (the beloved) tropical waters and leaping into the sea that is heavily influenced by the circumpolar current (a.k.a. Antarctica). At class today, our engineer told us that he would be turning on heat tonight, a thought that seemed inconceivable in our shorts and t-shirts on deck this afternoon. As you may be able to tell, I am a bit nervous about this change in temperature and sea conditions, but I am excited to see the mountains of the South Island and the penguins.

For my parents that want to hear about my academics on the ship: B Watch had morning watch today and I was in the lab. It was quite a busy watch: we deployed our CTD carousel, run a Neuston net tow, collected a surface sample and run it through our Chlorophyll A, pH and alkalinity tests. We have practicals soon—so everyone has been studying our lab skills and the 85+ lines of the ship. All of these deployments involve quite a bit of sail handling to make sure the boat is moving at the right speed/direction and we had quite an exciting time striking the jib. Once the sail was struck, it started flapping in the wind at the tip of the bowsprit, so Eliza, Jill and I followed our watch officer, Maia, out on the bowsprit to furl the sail (clipped into our harness of course—don’t worry mom). I love going out onto the bowsprit because the water is right below the netting and the swells send you way up and down on the most exhilarating ride.

Mom, Dad, Jo, Matt, Malc, Bella & friends:  SEA Semester has been quite the ride so far and I can’t wait to tell you so much more about it! I haven’t thrown up so far which is quite the accomplishment. My clothes are very dirty and I’m constantly salty. On the bright side, my Chaco tan is summer-time quality and I have been having the time of life. I am on 0100-0700 watch tonight and I will think of you all when I am on lookout and see nothing but blue horizon and stars. 

- Stacie