Birthday, Burgers, and Firing Swells

Author: Myles S., C Watch

My Birthday started at 0000 when I turned 17. I was on helm steering the
ship. I was relieved and then plotted some points on the chart. I ripped a
boatie. Don't worry it was just a boat check. Then change over happened and
I went to bed at 0115. I woke up at 7 to the ring of the bell right in my
ear. It was none other than Ian ringing it to wake me up for Breaky. There
were Breakfast Sandos and Ian did them right. They were so good and then
went back to bed. I know it seems like I just sleep for the whole day but
don't worry this day was jam packed with events. I wake up for the final
time at 11 and get a lot of Happy Birthdays while still waking up. It was so
warm today I got to wear shorts and a tee shirt. It was a nice break from
the bone-chilling cold that we were so accustom to. It was so warm because
we were in the Gulf Stream.  We had lunch at 1220 then I got ready for
watch. I was on dishes today so I was in the Galley with Rachel, Seb, and
Ian. It was a squad.

For the first part, I was all alone just doing dishes.
I go up on deck and see Madi giving Tahoe (Teo) a haircut. If you ask Tahoe
he will say it looks really Good! If you ask anyone else they will say it is
not very good.  Then we had class which was fun and we prepped the ship for
heavy weather that was coming. We put nets to save us from falling
overboard. We also rigged a line on each side of the ship that we have to
clip into to walk along the deck. This did not stop Lily's sunglasses and
hat from going overboard! They both just flew right off! We also got a visit
from a pod of dolphins. There were 3 babies and they were so cute! This is
when the afternoon got eventful. We celebrated my birthday and had a cake
with brownie on the bottom and cookie on the top. And you know what goes
great with those? Milk. I got a full quart of milk and it was the cherry on
top of everything! That combo is top 10 in my book. I went back to do more
dishes and Rachel, Seb and Ian joined me.

We were slowly starting to rock back and forth. Then we hit a big wave and everything falls I am holding
stuff in all my hands and a can with my foot when I see a mug starting to
slide. I yell at someone to get it and at the last second  Ian grabs it! It
was sick! Every few minutes we have a wave like that. Until we get to the
biggest one of the day. Ian was up on deck so it was me with and the 2
stews. The wave hits and we turn 35 degrees on a keel. We have little metal
walls that keep the food in but we had extra ones that slide so I was
holding those.

While this was happening the water from the 2 sinks fully fly
out onto my legs! Then out of no where one of the metal things flies across
the galley and misses my knees and hits the wall with such force that it
makes a small dent in the wall. It was exhilarating! The boat came back to
like a 5 degree keel and it comes down screaming CADE WAS OFF THE DECK AND
WAS HOLDING ON TO JUST A ROPE. Cade that must have been so scary but also
sick. And don't worry he was clipped in and was safe within the rails but
just off the ground because the boat was on the it's side. So yeah the day
carried on like that and I got off watch and had some burgers. I am writing
my blog right now with my mouse falling across my screen with the boat
rocking. Signing off.