Today is the beginning of the end for S-283; we began the last leg of our voyage from Napier to Auckland. It is simultaneously bittersweet and exciting to think about how far we’ve come. This morning, all hands were on deck to help us get underway.

So many times I think that I have reached the peak of an experience and then an opportunity arises that surpasses all expectations. Today, after an early wake up for another delicious breakfast (shout out to Sabrina, our fabulous steward), we headed into Napier once more, and after some brief but much appreciated free time in the morning to grab coffee and pastries and otherwise explore, we were bused to visit the gannet colony out at Cape Kidnappers.

The wait is over folks, here it is, Mia’s account of the time she licked a man-of-war:

“Biovolume the sample.” I read the question maybe ten times before I start trying to answer it. In front of me there is only a graduated cylinder and a small metal lab spatula. I look around the crowded wet lab, too aware of the two minute timer ticking away somewhere out of sight, knowing that if I don’t biovolume something soon, I’ll have to skip the question entirely.

We’ve been on the ship long enough now that we’re all familiar with the intricate peculiarities of life here. Undoubtedly, one of these peculiarities is communication, in all of its iterations. This is the only place I’ve ever been where repeating what other people say to you back to them becomes a near-comical reflex, popping up even in casual conversation. I am in constant communication with some of my shipmates, namely those on my watch, who I see every time I am awake, without fail.

Bob McDevitt is a semi-retired senior forecaster from the Kiwi national weather service that any visiting sailor would do well to meet. He goes by the pen name MetBob.  Among other things, Bob is the author of something called The Mariner’s MetPack, the first book that I ever read on weather in the Southwest Pacific.

I am writing this blog post right after dawn watch from 0100-0700. As many of my shipmates have already written, our lives are basically just eat, sleep, stand watch. Yesterday one of our professors told us that pretty soon we will get into a rhythm and we should find time to fit in school work when we are feeling good.

Today was our first full day sailing the open ocean towards the Kermadec Islands. It was also my third time having lab duty during my watch. Lab duty is by far my favorite part of being on watch. I have always loved hands-on learning especially when it comes to science.

Today marks the beginning of Week Two of our voyage, and our last day on land before a long stretch of sailing around the Kermadec Islands. It is hard to wrap my head around the fact that only a week ago my jetlagged self boarded the Robert C. Seamans.

The day started at 1300 for B-watch. Jenn and Kate would work with Farley in lab, Camryn would assist Sabrina in the Galley, and Sophia and Elena would stay on deck to partake in routine boat checks, navigation, and more. Having anchored early in the afternoon at Russell Island in the Bay of Islands, the warm spring sun and clear blue skies eagerly invited all members of the crew on deck to enjoy the weather, free time, and the smooth stability of the Robert C Seamans.

So the adventure begins. The sails are up and we are underway, course set to the Bay of Islands. There’s a sense of being able to breathe easy out on the water. After a day of motoring out of Auckland’s harbor, it was a relief to see the Jib Tops’l, Maine Stays’l and Mains’l up and flying.