Hello from the North Pacific Gyre! (well, sort of!)
by Jessica MacIntosh – Deckhand aboard Sea Dragon.
Sea Dragon has been slogging its way northeast from Hawaii towards the north pacific gyre, and we are finally arriving at the southern edge. Its been almost a week at sea with 20-25 knots of breeze sailing as close to the wind as possible. For the new eXXpedition crew, getting used to “life at an angle” has been challenging, but this enthusiastic group of women have faced every moment with eager smiles.
For the first few days while the crew were getting their sea legs, Anna, Imogen and i cooked lunches and dinners, did the washing up and hourly boat checks. But now, the crew are absolute pros at mountain climbing around down below, and are cooking delicious meals, washing dishes , and are always on top of doing the hourly log! We’re all quite getting into the rhythm of things.
The sailing has been fantastic, Sea Dragon is quite happy coasting along at 6-8 knots, and we are getting lots of experience putting in reefs, shaking them out again, and grinding on the winch to put the yankee in and out as squalls come and go. We also deployed the first surface manta trawl yesterday, and collected quite a load of plastic that the science team will examine more closely today. While rigging the pole to deploy the trawl, Anna and I also got a free salt water shower from standing at the bow pulpiit. Bonus!
It’s been fun standing watch with crew who are new to sailing, it makes me think of how others taught and guided me. I recall some of the catch phrases of old mates and captains: “Constant vigilance!” is one of my favourites that I like to pass on, as well as “We can always do better” which I tend to apply to myself more than others. For example, while on the bow the other day with salt water barreling down all my foulies I noticed a grumpy frown creep over my sopping wet face. But I caught it, and reminded myself of the facts of the present moment: I am doing what I love in the middle of the ocean, on a great adventure, and it is wonderful magical ocean water spilling over me at a time when my alternative reality could have me stressing over a malfunctioning computer, or a stapler that has gone missing. BING! Happiness. Ocean = happiness. We are the only ones capable of improving our own mental state, and all it takes is an intention to be better.
And as always, I am enjoying every minute of doing better at the other stuff – sailing, fixing, rigging, etc. which is easy wth First Mate Anna and Skip Imo around. The ease and coolness with which they execute jobs is admirable. Makes me think of an old Tom Waits line “How you do anything is how you do everything”.
And more of everything ahead – science, weather, excitement, and definitly (happy) salt water showers.
Stay tuned, and also follow Panexplore’s Sea Dragon & the eXXpedition stories on Instagram @panexplore & @eXXpedition_, Facebook @panexplore & @eXXpeditionCIC and Twitter @panexplore & @eXXpedition.
Enjoy as we bring you virtually along on this latest expedition
Sea Dragon modelling eXXpediton banner and partners