We set sail from Nuku Hiva after clearing customs this morning (SEA has to pay for the flights and lodging of officials) and after some of the French couples in the area came from their yachts to have a tour of the boat. C watch was in the middle of dawn cleanup and I was continually interrupted in my scrubbing of the soles. It was nice to have visitors, though. We hardly saw land move away as we were so busy setting the sails, including the raffee, which we haven’t seen yet. We expect to get to Kirimati mostly sailing and using the engine as little as possible. It’s difficult getting used to the rolling of the ship again. I’ve been crashing into walls and losing my balance quite regularly. It’s nice to be underway again, on our way to the next stop. In the meantime, we have a lot to do: a paper, outlines, and rough drafts for our atlas entries. It’s been awhile since I’ve written anything academic.
Yesterday we went paddling and it was awesome. We spent the whole morning switching in and out of the 6 person canoe (never call it a boat) and at one point we raced to the Seamans and back, probably about 2500 meters, and compared the times of the three canoes. My canoe came in first, five seconds ahead of the others. Then, I sculled with the captain in Gene, a little dory, back to the Seamans. I got pretty burned and putting on a shirt this morning felt like rubbing sand paper on my skin, but nothing time won’t heal. After an early dinner, we piled into the station wagon (the zodiac like boat) to go to shore for a benefit to raise money for a local reggae band to go to Tahiti. It started late, but we got to see some traditional dance, a haka, and then, much to the chagrin of us all, we were called up to do our haka in front of everyone. Luckily it was dark. We did pretty well considering we’re a bunch of Americans and got some applause. I split a crepe with ice cream and whipped cream with one of my friends and it was so good. I haven’t had ice cream in about a month and I miss it.
Most of us are pretty sleepy. I’m not sure why, since we’ve been getting full nights of sleep, minus an hour or two here and there when we have to stand watch. You should see the coffee we go through…I drink my fair share. Also, I’m sitting in the library right now and cursing whoever decided to make the seats made of leather. They’re terribly sticky.
On the science deck at sunset
Paddling in Nuku Hiva
The dance festival in Nuku Hiva
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