Journals, week of 3/11/96
Charles Godbout, Student
March 2, 1996 aboard ConcordiaStudent Journal: Sea Life
We have managed to see a lot of marine life since leaving Durban. There have been big things to see like dolphins off the bow, a shark (not sure what kind), and albatros with their huge wing span. When we were on St. Paul Island, we saw sea elephants, sea lions, seals, petnels, and lots of penguins. While at sea we caught (and released) a dolphin fish, kelp (with the anchor), and very kind fishermen gave us scampies. The underwater marine life abounds but when we are travelling at 6 or 7 knots, it's hard to pull over and admire something interesting in the waves.
Robyn Legrow
March 3, 1996 aboard ConcordiaSeemingly Alone in the World
Anticipation for our arrival in Perth is growing bigger and bigger every day. Even though we had a stop at Ile St. Paul, we would like to get back into the realm of society again. Not many people have been at sea for this length of time before and I feel very priviledged to be one of the few who have. It is amazing how you feel after being at sea for so long, like you are the only person in the world and that nothing else exists. This feeling occurs gradually when you look outside day after day and you see nothing but a never-ending horizon. It’s very easy to think about nothing but onboard activities when that’s all you’re exposed to. A month is a long time to see nothing but water and steel. Even though it has been everything but easy, I would not change this experience for anything in the world.
Cass Ruff
March 10, 1996, aboard ConcordiaMariner's watch
Mariners watch is a requirement in which each student must engage every night. Each shift is two hours long, but because of the number of people in each watch group, individually you only spend about 40- 60 minutes actually standing on lookout. I find mariners watch to be a nice quiet time where you are finally alone after a busy, strenuous day at sea. But there are occasions when the weather is very poor, and those nights I usually wish I was down in my nice warm cabin instead of facing the stormy night. We are all equipped with foul weather gear and a safety harnass for watch purposes. It is always our responsibility to be there on the lookout ready for action. On stormy nights you use your harnass to clip yourself onto the ship, you also need to hold on tight if you don't want to end up in the sea. No matter what the conditions, mariners watch is very important. There is always someone on the bridge keeping a lookout.
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