A "Swell" Day

The second day at sea. The deck hand at the left hand side is steering the ship

Satellite screen they used to help plan the course for the calmest seas possible

One of the many average wave"crashes"  The Bridge is on at Deck 7

Controls used 

As I mentioned we have been sailing on some rough seas. The third consecutive rough night proved to be too much for some of the items that we thought were secured well. After not sleeping well due to intermittent large swells and corresponding "crashing" sensations, most of the crew was very tired. Tuesday night we experienced one of the largest we had 27* tilt. In our cabin ladders for the bunkbeds went flying, a cabinet door flung open dumping its contents, and other things slammed and creaked that had not before. 

Wednesday morning areas of the ship looked like a tornado came through, the dining room team discovered the island that holds the bread cutting machine that was secured to the floor had slid and banged inside the  U where the food is stored like a pinball machine. It left dents in the metal and pushed one of the counters out an inch or so. It is powered through a cord that runs in the ceiling, so the electricity was questionable. The chairs were over turned and slid everywhere in total chaos. A shelf that was connected to the wall collapsed on the floor.  A shelf near by was secured to the wall with straps. This left a narrow pathway in/out of the dish room meaning we had to carrying everything in/out by hand. The shelf on the floor was blocking the elevator used to get food trays up and down from the galley to dining room. 

The crew galley had the meat slicer hit the floor, yogurt in containers spilled all over the refrigerator floor, and a few other things. Thankfully the meat slicer is working now. In the cafe, the espresso machine took a dive as well. Books in the academy and library all came tumbling down to the floor. Thankfully, no one was injured in any of this! The large swells continued but not quite so large. Sorry no photos of that.

School was cancelled for the day. No hot food needing the oven was made. Hot oatmeal was made in the pan. Ramen Noodles in the package was served for those who wanted to make their own hot lunch. Dinner was hot dogs and mashed potatoes. Cold cheese, meat, and veggies were also served. Bread was cut by hand during each meal, items for breakfast were carefully brought up and down the stairwell, Getting items in/out of cabinet that stores peanut butter, jelly, butter, and other condiments entailed locking and unlocking the doors each time with a key. Spreads tables that are usually in the middle of the dining room were placed against a wall that rocks aft to stern rather than side to side to insure them not tipping over. Sweeping was done after each meal, but only spot mopping. The intermittent large swells continued throughout the day. When they happen we all stopped and waited for the ship to return to normal rocking level prior to continuing the tasks at hand. Needless to say, everyone did get three meals yesterday, and clean up occurred after each as well. Everything simply took longer. Being tired and continually finding parts that we take advantage of made for many laughs yesterday. 

My creative and gracious bunkmate suggested I move my mattress to the floor. After making some adjustments to the room, it worked, The ladders are stored in my bunk frame against the wall. My mattress is now on the floor. Thankfully, the swells were less and I was rocking side to side rather than head to toe. I slept some what better last night. 

The mattress fit just right without an inch to spare on the floor

Tied the bathroom door open to get some ventilation

Many times during the sail, my mind has wandered to those brave explorers, vikings, pilgrims, and the like who sailed in wooden ships without windows, air vents, three meals a day, bathrooms, satellite to guide with currents. It is a wonder anyone survived the fumes, wet conditions, unsanitary, scurvy, sea sickness, dehydration,  to make it around the continent of Africa, across any ocean, or would travel in this mode repeatedly. 

I am grateful for the modern conveniences of electricity, plumbing, satellite, refrigeration, internet, hot food and showers, windows, mattress, dry cabin,  skilled deck hands and captain, and relatively short sail. 

It is hard to see through the reflection on the glass, but this is what we saw most of the time. All sea

Followed by all sky

Thankfully, there were a few moments like this too!