Day 54 – Its Hot!!

Hi Everyone,Welcome to day 54 of our voyage. Well I think today it hit home that we really are in the tropics because yes it is hot and the majority of us would kill at this time for aircon!! That said we don’t have those type of luxuries onboard Young Endeavour but we do have the ability to improvise and that’s just what we did when we rigged two fire hoses at midships and we all enjoyed our very own pool party (photo attached in tonight’s log) . The time is ticking down and if the weather remains favourable tonight will be our second last night at sea for this voyage so Grace decided to highlight the different things that we consider normal on YE that may not be considered the same back in normal life. Enjoy!Until tomorrow, take care.Yours AyeCaptain Gav  Capt’s Log 12 Feb15Acclimatization is a funny thing – as mentioned previously, the 24 Young Australians on this voyage have grown to love the quirks and traits of rugged sea life. However, over the next few weeks we will need to re-acclimatize to our normal lives and slot back into society by noting the following changes:  Teamwork: No longer will there be a kindred spirit to hold our tea, turn the tap, pull out the draw or peel back the shower curtain in assistance. Upon embarking on this voyage, I can count single-handidly how many things I do each day which don’t require some sort of assistance from my crew mates – this number usually corresponds with how much water I have drunk during the day. When stepping back onto land, there won’t be an army of supporters or assistants lurking behind every corner, and I shall have to reconsider when we ask someone if they will kindly assist with tucking me into bed as I keep sliding out.  Land Itself: Believe it or not, the very action of walking and living on land is exhausting. After two days of Buenos Aries, our ankles had swollen due to the sheer effort walking beyond 44 meters at a time and land sickness was a legitimate concern. The efforts of living outside this $20 million caravan will be mountainous for the first week, until our bodies physically adjust back to having to move from home to uni/office and branching out beyond the upper decks.  Temperature: While sitting here I’m literally dripping in sweat while Blue Watch are cleaning out the wet weather gear, designed to protect and warm us in conditions below 0 degrees… which we all were pretty much sleeping in last week. The temperature variations we have gone through have been nothing short of dramatic. While I maintain that I will forever be a “summer person”, a tiny voice in my head is commenting on the ridiculousness of this transformation.  The Food: Many of us are in denial about the fact that we don’t have a Chef Aaron ourselves. Who is this guy and where can I buy one? After weeks of his meals, tireless efforts and incredible duff, I am not looking forward to going back to my lonesome (but nonetheless flat and unwavering) kitchen for three square meals a day.  Sleep: More then five hours in a row? – forget about it. I believe Shannon still holds the Nap Championship with no less than 5 naps in a single day. Napping is encouraged as a way of life on this voyage so excuse me Mr Boss Man back home, I might just have to pull up a comfy piece of carpet under my desk for a quick kip.  Social Standards: It’s not ok to sniff each others pants to verify their cleanliness. It’s not ok to squeeze past someone in a fashion which would otherwise be considered frottage. Comparing how filthy one another’s hair is should be frowned upon. Crocs and socks are definitely not ok and the constant public display of underwear will be reconsidered when we land. We promise.  Sea Jargon: Heads vs Bathrooms. Port/Starboard vs Left/Right. Galley vs Kitchen. Racked out vs Asleep. Fragged vs Tired. Safeguard vs For realsies . Duff vs Dessert. Rack vs Bed. Deck vs Floor etc.  Language: Jargon used on the Ship will need to be reconsidered for story telling purposes too: “So I lay aloft on the foremast and harbour furled the portside topgallant while the buntlines were loose and the wind in irons.” This will then be translated into: “So I climbed the big tall vertical stick at the front, and then climbed out onto the highest horizontal stick to fold and tie up the sail super neatly while the lines I usually cling to were loose and the wind was coming from straight ahead making my job very difficult.”Bearded Men: Somehow, I don’t think that this is a realistic ratio of bearded men in society.  Needless to say these transitions will be super easy for us Horn Dogs – after all, we just spent 54 days on a tall ship!  Yours Aye,Grace (Blue Watch).Ps. See you in five days Matt!!! xo    “