Within the Bioluminescence

Author: Kristin Zunino, College of the Atlantic (C Watch)

The day started for C watch at our 0100 watch rotation. It was a beautiful
night motor sailing along to our waypoint within Otago Anchorage where we
will soon anchor for the night (as of 1700 when I’m writing this). We have
started shadowing our mates, 3 hours of the watch we learn, observe, and ask
as many questions we have about their role in operations. Plus, we get to
assist in these activities to better hone our ever-advancing training
including: turnovers, check-ins with the captain, more chart handling,
course order changes, monitoring traffic, and calling out sails. Overall, I
think Julian and I did a great job shadowing. The watch was fun! We struck
the jib and went out on the head rig to furl it. It’s always a surreal
experience clipping in on the head rig during the night hours. In between
the netting all one sees is darkness and gleams from the water below. It
feels as though we shouldn’t be there, yet know that we are safe and aware
of our surroundings.

Though we worked in the hours of darkness, there was light all around us
from the stars in the sky to the bioluminescence below. The stars were
absolutely breathtaking tonight lighting up the night sky. A ghost-like path
of the milky way ran through the sky and the Southern Cross. The Southern
Cross is right where it usually is, shinning bright directly above us with
the rest of the stars rotating around it. We can see at least two planets
tonight: Venus and Mars with its orange hue. Below water was lit by the
abundance of blue bioluminescence. The blue glow activated by us making way
through the water. They filled the waters next to us on either side.
Dolphins came to join, blue glows moving over their bodies as they dipped in
and out of our wake. Everyone rushed to the bow to see them. It was
mesmerizing to watch… one of my favorite things from dawn watches thus far.

This watch in particular made me feels grounded and at peace with everything
in life. The ocean is so lively around us. The liveliness really hit when I
woke up for lunch to the force 7 winds and 5 foot swells A watch was
navigating through.

Questions I have since being underway (I don’t want answers):

-         Do dentists get commissions on each tooth they pull? If so does
the price range based on type: baby teeth, molars, wisdom teeth, etc.?

-         What is the noodle that is spiral like a perfect curly fry, is
hollow like a tube, and starts with a ‘c’ (good for mac n’ cheese)?

-         Can you overdo it with electrolytes? What is the limit?

-         Hypothetically would a bull shark more-likely attack someone in
the ocean or in a river?

-         Why does Swiss cheese not melt well? How do the holes get there?

-         Who decided to have a leap day every four years? I understand why
we have one but what was the name of the person who decided this?

-         Is tonic water just seltzer in a fancy bottle?

-         What’s the fastest time someone has eaten corn on the cob
(cooked)?

-         How old would Abraham Lincoln be right now if he was alive?

-         Can one truly be a biohazard to one’s self?

Kristin Zunino

C Watch

College of the Atlantic