Rolling with the waves

I feel like I’m in the world’s biggest rocking chair. The Farley is famous for the way she rolls when she’s at sea, and her rolling has the most amazing ability to lull me to sleep. Luckily the movement of the ship has mainly only affected my ability to remain conscious for more than a few hours and it hasn’t affected my digestive ability in the same way as it has for some crew. Beth joked with me before I left that she wanted an update on my sea-sickness status, and I’m happy to report that it’s basically non-existant. We’ve been through two minor storms, and all my meals have maintained their intended course, which I’m quite proud of.

I am starting to feel a bit stir crazy and hope that the weather improves soon so that I can at least spend an hour or two before and after watch out on deck. I have no idea how people go out to sea for months at a time to work; I am beginning to wonder how I’m going to maintain my sanity on this ship for the next few weeks. I’m getting to know the others on the ship and we’re all getting along quite well which is nice. But this cabin fever I feel creeping in is way worse than any cabin fever I’ve had during Wisconsin winters.

On the bright side, I’m learning so much and am so glad to be here. I’m learning quite a bit about navigation and understanding how weather patterns affect the sea state. It’s amazing how the changes in weather on land can go completely unnoticed because out here, any change in the weather completely affects every aspect of our life. If a low pressure system is moving through, the winds pick up, the waves pick up and moving around the ship becomes quite like a dance party. I could never have told you when a low pressure system was moving through before I came on the ship. I’m also learning, or trying to learn, all sorts of useful knots. We have the most amazing knot books I have ever seen; there is no shortage of ropes to practice with, but my problem is that I’m working on the bridge 8 hours a day and don’t have a lot of free time to be out on deck using these knots. But, I’m not complaining, I definitely I have the best job on the ship.

Reasons why I have the best job on the ship:

I get to watch the waves go by along with the weather and wildlife.

Fresh air when the weather is good.

No diesel fumes or constant heat (As is in the engine room)

No hard labor exposed to the elements (As in the deck crew)

I don’t think I’d do so well in the galley as I’m sure motion sickness would interfere with any sort of culinary magic I’d like to stir up.

Every day at sea is quite like the day before and it’s quite likely that it’ll be identical to tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow we’ll find a long line to pull in. Probably not. I know we won’t see land for at least another week…so there’s not a whole lot to report on right now. Mainly I’m spending my free time watching movies with the crew and reading one of a few books I’m working on right now.