It is hard to imagine just how much a boat can move while underway.  On board, it’s perfectly normal to have an object sitting stationary until the boat moves a little more than usual, friction isn’t enough to keep the item in place, and it goes flying downhill, accelerating all the way.  This makes mealtimes particularly interesting. 

We have non-skid rubber mats which we put on the tables and on key areas of the galley countertops to stop our plates from taking off, but this means that cups and large containers are more likely to simply tip in place rather than slide around and tip later.  Around lunchtime today, I was fortunate enough not to be in my bunk at the time it was accosted by a wayward ceramic plate and a towel that had previously been keeping some rice warm.  Luckily the rice itself stayed on the table, but a flour explosion in the galley kept us cleaning a little extra after lunch anyway. After all that, I took special care at dinner to move the tray of lasagna (totally delicious lasagna made by Gina) to the far side of the other table before getting in my bunk for a nap before watch at 2300.
            Today was really sunny and clear, and we’re entering into the warm waters of the Gulf Stream (peak surface temperature today 75 degrees F).  I’ve been busy with watches, with trying to keep up my reading, and trying to still having a few hours to sleep, so I haven’t been writing much.  I got to go aloft again today—I loosed the topsail with Hanah and Newman.  It was my first time going aloft while underway and I was relieved that I didn’t get seasick at the top—there was way too much to do (like hold on tight but also enjoy the view) to think about the rolling boat.
 

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