Dawn Watch

Author: Tessa G., B Watch

When I was woken up by Sophie for dawn watch my first thought was, already?
Having just fallen asleep after a lot of rolling around my bunk it was
already time for Bravo Watch to take over the deck. Once Johnny had the con
I was sent to helm. The waves were pounding against the bow of the boat and
salt spraying back onto the lookout and I. Steering in the huge waves was
difficult but eventually I got the hang of it. A boat check and learning how
to use the GPS to track other boats was next. The trick to a good dawn watch
is to just keep on doing things. Onto the third hour and I was assigned to
forward lookout, singing to keep myself awake and alert. Liam paid a special
visit from lab and we discussed our Pizza Chef orders. Every Dawn watch at
about 0400 a watch comes together on the quarter deck for tea time. Today's
tea time was special though. Since there was lightning nearby all of the
students were sent to the lab. Waiting out the storm over M&Ms and chai we
talked about our upcoming arrival to Bermuda and the first things we want to
do when we arrive. Many answers included just being on solid land. Wakeups,
a few dishes, stealing the leftover apples and peanut butter from breakfast
and one last boat check ended my dawn watch. Immediately I flung myself into
my bed and went back to sleep after a long and salty six hours. Whenever I
am on dawn watch I use the time to reflect on the trip so far. I think about
the new friendships I've made and the old ones I've strengthened. I think
about my family and how I can't wait to see them when I return back to land.
I have come up with many ways to keep my mind awake during the hours of
darkness. Although dawn watch is not my favorite watch time to be on I try
to make the best of it as much as I can.