The sound of scuffing sandpaper on mahogany and teak and the smell of varnish is abundant on deck on this beautiful sunny morning. The lee side of the galley house and the double doors of the salon received another coat of varnish – you can never have too many coats. The quarterdeck is covered with white canvas that blinds your eyes from the reflection of the sun, like white snow in winter time. Sailmaker John is keeping his assistants, Anne-Laure, of France, and Anne, of New York City, busy stitching patches and grommets on an upper topsail. This morning’s gang of rig rats (referring to crew members who enjoy spending more time aloft then on deck) Lars, of Norway, Kimba, of Ontario, Canada, and Corey, of Saskatchewan, Canada, were busy on the foremast repairing and replacing chafe gear. The rigging team rove off a new port fore main brace and are now aloft on the mizzen bending on the ship’s last sail, aside from stuns’ls, the gaff topsail!
Yesterday’s announcement of the South Pacific Seamanship Competition, to be held in the near future, has kicked the lead seamen into high gear, testing their watches to improve on their skills and nautical knowledge. Yesterday also began the first day of the ship’s celestial navigation course run by Tad, of Washington, USA. Each day he will run a class for those interested, his goal that he has set out for everyone is to not use any technology at all, except a sextant and a watch. Tomorrow the crew will continue with making their ditty bags in quest of sailmaking skills. And all bets must be handed in, it’s anyone’s guess – when will we arrive at Pitcairn Island?
From: Galapagos
Towards: Pitcairn
Date: Tuesday June 26
Noon Position: 05°35.2′ S x 097°28.6’W
Course + Speed: SWxS + 3.5
Wind direction + Force: SExE + 3-4
Swell Height + Direction: 3m + SSE
Weather: Bright, sunny
Day’s Run: 132.2nm
Passage Log: 127.1nm
Distance to Port: 2207nm
Voyage: 3957nm
Sail Set: All sails (gaff topsail is being bent on now!)