Devon

Thinking back to Eagle Pond, it’s hard to believe that we’ve been on the Gamage for 6 weeks now. I find it difficult to remember days all together! Even the passages we’ve been on have merged into one long day. It’s certain moments or emotions that seem to shape my memories of the trip thus far. Looking around the ship at my shipmates, I can’t really digest exactly what we’re doing. We have accomplished so much together! I can’t believe that we’ve sailed without seeing land for 12 days, that we’ve been disconnected from ‘the real world’ for almost an entire term now, unable to talk our friends and families.

When we first stepped on the ship, most of us knew nothing about sailing. Things were so unfamiliar. First we learned our lines, then we got head rig cleared. Next we learned our knots and standing rigging, which got us aloft cleared. From there it got harder and more challenging! We entered the JWO phase (Junior Watch Officer), and are still learning how to juggle the impossible job of managing the ship.

Everyday we become more a part of the crew. When orders are called to, “set the main” we now get the task done with ease. Also, when things need to happen, it’s amazing how quickly and orderly we can all pull together. When we left St. Thomas, we hauled back the anchor, navigated, and pushed our own way out by ourselves (under Cap’s watchful eye of course).

As time continues on after ocean, most of us will forget our lines, how to tie a bowline, and plot a DR. But there are things that we will never forget, like what it felt like to be aboard, how accomplished and hardworking we can be, and what it means to be apart of a crew.~*Devon Reiger Webster I*~

Mom please make sure Hannah brings my laptop home J <3