We’re nearly there after three nights and two full days at sea, Fiji is in metaphorical sight! Well some of it is already in sight as we have been passing through some of the outlying islands since yesterday afternoon. The passage has been uneventful, with the routine and the discipline of the watches quickly reasserting themselves. The 12-4 has been a tough one to adapt to for me, primarily because of the disrupted sleep - you go to sleep at around 21h00 only to be awoken just before midnight for the watch, and although you can sleep through to midday, more often than not you are up and about having breakfast having been disturbed by other crew members!
But these are mere gripes: after all, it is incredible experience to be on the ship’s deck in the dead of a South Pacific night navigating the ship on its mainly lonely route. Saying that, we did encounter what appeared to be a rather large fishing vessel last night that we had to steer round - my responsibility on the helm that time too - and as we get closer to landfall there are more natural signs of life like birds flying overhead.
But these are mere gripes: after all, it is incredible experience to be on the ship’s deck in the dead of a South Pacific night navigating the ship on its mainly lonely route. Saying that, we did encounter what appeared to be a rather large fishing vessel last night that we had to steer round - my responsibility on the helm that time too - and as we get closer to landfall there are more natural signs of life like birds flying overhead. 
Yesterday afternoon we spent most of the watch making « baggy winkles », the ship’s equivalent of crochet as some wag put it! These are the bushy things you see on a ship’s rigging which are there to stop the ropes chaffing the sails. We also caught another large fish off the stern of the boat, this time holding on to it long enough to get it aboard. A fish dinner was then enjoyed by most, except me being on burger rations.
Now we are looking forward to landfall in Fiji. I am not too sure what the plans are for the next couple of days as I have missed the last two Captain’s morning briefings, but I understand it involves lots of island cruising and relaxing - the perfect antidote after a trip across the deep, mostly blue ocean. And perhaps we will see some more whales too, after the incredible experience of Monday.
Rob
PS Sounds of Soren - the creaking cabins
Rob
PS Sounds of Soren - the creaking cabins
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