Seas laying down, yards braced almost square to the faired winds, the ceiling of the sky lifting and becoming blue.
Happy Fourth of July and Tonga Day! An overcast, yet bright sky blanketed the ship this morning, grey clouds parted as blue pierced through, making for a sunny afternoon on deck. The sailmaking department is sprawled out on the quarterdeck as usual, mending the spanker that was sent down yesterday and seaming a new t’gallant. The oil- and tar-covered riggers, who we keep as far away as possible from the sailmakers, have foot ropes stretched out on the well deck as they learn to parcel and serve the wire in order to protect it and increase its longevity.
Common sounds you hear on board a square rigger consist of water and waves lapping against the hull washing along the waterline, scraping, sanding and sawing of wood, painting, varnishing – all sounds that fill your ears throughout the day. Best of all, there’s always a crew member singing. Typically they have a line or two stuck in their head for a week or so and the only way to get it out is by singing it. Often others join in and from a fly on the wall’s perspective, it would seem as though we are living in a real-life musical. Alas, we’re merely sailors going about our daily projects all the while entertaining ourselves.
A lecture on sail history and rig types began yesterday and continues today – the crew is keen on learning about other types of ships and boats and where exactly it all began. After weeks out at sea, with not anything in sight but blue ocean, occasional birds soaring by, flying fish gliding over top the water and yesterday’s spotting of 20 – 50 whales (believed to be sei whales), some mere metres off the ship’s stern, it’s a wonder why would we ever go back to land?
From: Galapagos
Towards: Pitcairn Island
Date: July 4th, 2018
Noon Position: 14°43.5′ S x 112°42.6′ W
Course + Speed: SW 1/2 S + 4.8 kts
Wind direction + Force: ExS + 4
Swell Height + Direction: 3m + ExS
Weather: Overcast
Day’s Run: 130.9nm
Passage Log: 137.5nm
Distance to Port: 1157nm
Voyage: 5028nm
Sails Set: All square sails and main topmast staysail