Standing Watch

Standing watch…

 

We left Isla de los Estados around 4pm for an overnight transit across the Straits of Le Maire and back to Tierra del Fuego.  Everyone took a turn at the wheel – 1-2 hours of watch.  Standing watch, especially at night is a special, interesting new experience.  Below are the thoughts from standing watch:

 

Bob:

I stood watch twice, 17:00-19:00 and 3:00-4:00.  During my first watch we rounded Cabo San Antonio.  Several others, including Capt. Fede, stayed on the bridge chatting.  I began my 2^nd watch at 2:45 and even at this hour there was a sliver of light in the east, at our aft.  The only sign of life was a ship several miles in front of us.  I was relieved by Giff on both watches.

Giff:

I have been lucky over the past few trips, Laura has put me on both sunset and sunrise watches. For me any watch is defined in one word WATCH. Checking position, logging in every hour, watching for hazards rewarded by beautiful light, rolling seas, albatross and petrels circling, dolphins riding your bow wake and the occasional rise of a whale. Crossing the Lemaire this trip was the highlight of my watch this trip especially since the Capitan took advantage of a good weather window.

 

Laura:

I ended up with the sunset watch, taking over from Giff.  We were headed right into the setting sun, with our westward heading – it greeted us as we completed our calm passage of the Strait of Le Maire.    A few boats were on the AIS, but out of sight and for the moment – the Beagle Channel, the sunset, and the Albatross were all ours

Silvia:

She accidentally slept through her shift, but washed extra dishes the next day!

 

Alejandro:

Inmensidad… las primeras estrellas aparecen a pesar que las cortinas de la noche todavía dejan ver en el horizonte recuerdos del día que fue. Un pequeño barco y detrás del timón un hombre más pequeño aún. Afuera, las olas quieren marear a los aventureros, pero el inmenso mar nos recibe, nos abraza, nos acuna… Poco a poco el barco, el hombre, las estrellas, las olas y el mar se funden en uno solo bajo la inmensidad de la cortina de la noche

 

Liz:  At midnight, there is still a beautiful pink strip of light to the west, the remnants of sunset.  By one-o’clock the stars are bright and the southern cross appears!

 

Facundo:

A bordo del OCEAM TRAMP, viviendo una experiencia maravillosa durante las guardias de navegacion, disfrutando cada ola y cada rafaga de viento.