Datum: 19.11.2022
Autorin: Emily
Position: On our way to Tenerife 
Nautische Position: 35*48.673 N 12*25.901 W
Etmal: 1334,5 sm

Trainee record books

We’re all very exited for Tenerife and hope that it will get warmer soon. But as we can see, every day is a little bit warmer than the day before. So today we were already without our oils on watch. Also, we have to start with our trainee record books, because otherwise we won’t have shoreleave in Teneriffa. The first level has to be completed when we’ll arrive in the Caribbean. For that, we have to know about some safety things on board, how to do knots, hygiene on board, etc. If we can answer the questions from the officers, they’ll sign off the points for us. 

Climbing up the mast 

In the watch from 09:00-13:00 (Alpha 1), some of us had to climb up to the Bikinisails, because some of the ropes were tangled. We didn’t have that much waves, but it was the first time we did it while sailing. 

„Lenya, how did you feel while you climbed up?“ „I wasn’t scared at all and it was amazing to see the whole ship from above.“ Lex and David had to take one of the bikinisails down completely, so it fell on deck and Martin said: “You guys took of Reginas bikini.”

First lessons while sailing

Today we had our first lessons while sailing. The sea wasn’t that rough, so we didn’t need our buckets. The second watches had school from 09:00 to 13:00. The first watches had school after lunch from 14:00 to 18:00. First we had chemistry with Florian, after that some sailing lessons with David, where he taught us about the wind and the air pressure. At the end we had a lesson with Jacob, where we worked with out trainee record books and handled out a contract, which is about how we can live together. In the evening we had a beautiful sunset. 

P.S.: Liebe Grüße an alle Zuhause: Mama und Papa, Oma und Opa und Daniel, hab euch lieb. – Emily

Datum: 18.11.2022
Autorin: Maliqa
Co-Autorin: Juno
Position: On our way to Tenerife 
Nautische Position: N 38*20,8 W 10*44.2
Etmal: 1189 sm 

… ging’s richtig ab. Wir mussten im Dunkeln frühstücken, da beide Generatoren nicht funktionieren wollten. Dazu kam noch, das die Toilettenspülungen nicht mehr funktionierten. Die einzige gute Nachricht an diesem Morgen war, dass der der Unterricht ausfiel, da wir die Eimer der Schule vorzogen. Die beiden Probleme wurden etwas später aber wieder behoben. 

Neue Watches, neue Segel

Gestern wurden unsere Watches von 12 auf sechs Personen reduziert, so dass wir jetzt nur noch vier Stunden Wache und vier Stunden Schule haben, deswegen bekommt man noch weniger Personen zu Gesicht, da alle schlafen. Heute lernten wir, wie aufwendig das Setzen des Square- und Bikinisegels ist – Wir sind alle sehr motiviert, Nikitas Idee umzusetzen: Nippel auf die Bikinisegel zu malen. Viele Watches bestehen aufgrund der Seekrankheit nur noch aus drei Personen und es werden alle helfende Hände gebraucht. 

Anmerkung aus dem Backoffice: Weil der TB so sparsam war und wir gerade noch sehr gutes Material gefunden haben, gerne noch etwas mehr von einigen Tagen früher:

Datum: 17.11.2022
Autorin: Lina
Co-Autorin: Lenya
Position: near the coast of Portugal
Nautische Position: N 41° 00.00 W 09° 09.674
Etmal: 1018,6 sm 

All hands on deck 

This morning most of us were very excited to depart towards warmer regions. We were all kind of annoyed of being in a very rainy Vigo…. I mean our laundry from Monday is still wet and unless you want a wet bed, window opening was impossible. Anyway at around 9 o’clock we started sailing out of the harbour. I actually steered the ship out and I think everyone who looked at me saw how scared I was to crush into something.

Luckily I managed to get us out safely. Everyone was on deck to set the sails while it was raining cats and dogs. Around 11 o’clock the sky cleared and most of us were happy. 

My best friend: The bucket 

I guess everyone of us has already found really good friends here. But the best one has always been the f**ing bucket. We take it everywhere we go and hug it a lot throughout the day. The place next to us is always reserved for the bucket and people are complaining if he’s missing. But sometimes we and the bucked also have disagreements. For example if he slides across the whole ship – away from me – without asking… That’s why you hear a lot “where is my bucket” around the ship…but anyway we love him very much and don’t want to miss out on a second with him!

Sleep sleep puke sleep – repeat 

On days like this everybody has the same daily pattern. Resting is a very important thing while living on a ship. We are always very happy when we’re sleeping and somebody walks and screams “ALL HANDS ON DECK!!!” In the next two minutes we have to manage to put on all our sailing gear and warm cloth before the person comes back and starts more screaming. 

Suddenly everything is silent 

Today we finally started to sail without the engine. We did it before but this time it was for more than fice minutes. It’s an amazing feeling, like floating through the water… no vibrating through the whole ship and no loud noise. Only the waves flushing against the walls. It’s very beautiful! Also today we finally reached our first 1000 sea miles! 

*Apropos flushing… flushing is a very rare thing on board. That’s because our toilets don’t like to do it. What they do like is black and stinky water. 

Happy happy birthday brother Jacob

To celebrate the day of our next birthday kid, we gave the song brother Jacob new lyrics. 
I think he really liked it and his cake looked delicious too…. I think he could have imagined the day a little better with less seasickness and maybe his family. But now we’re his family and there is nothing better than to spend his birthday with us…. at least this is our opinion. 

At last we are all looking forward to start school tomorrow, I’m curious how many buckets will take part in our biology lesson…

Shoooooooting star!!!!

One last thing, right now we have had 30 minutes of our night watch and already seen more than five shooting stars. It’s beautiful how the sky looks without any lights who distract the light. It’s just dark, stars and apparently some shooting stars :))

P.S.: Ganz liebe Grüße nach Hause, an alle Freunde und auch nach Donaustauf. Mir geht’s gut und ich bin wirklich sehr happy hier zu sein :)) Noch musste mein Freund der Bucket mir noch nicht Gesellschaft leisten, aber das hat ja noch fünf Monate… (Lina)

Leo: Grüße an Omi und Opi. Hab euch ganz dolle lieb. 

Anna: Happy smacki birthday, Elsa!!!