On the Canterbury

BLOG: DAY SIX

By: Lucy Tothill

Monday, August 13, 1700 hrs, off Raoul
Latitude: 29 17.152
Longitude: 177 54.014
Wind Speed: 12knots at anchor
Sea State: 2

Cloud Cover: 8 octaves (overcast)

Life on board the Canterbury starts at 6:50 am each day, at least for those who rely on the morning piping of ‘Call all hands, call all hands, call all hands, wakey, wakey, wakey’ to wake them up.

Others sometimes prefer to rise a little earlier for some fitness training with the Navy – and others get up some time after 6"50, just in the nick of time to be served breakfast by 7:30.

A surge for the men’s and women’s showers begins just before and just after breakfast.

As they’re communal showers, most of us have a rather tricky decision to make each day: to go togged, or not togged. Showers are restricted to a few minutes, but that short time is bliss for dry and wind-blown skin.

Breakfast, like lunch and dinner, gives us lots of variety of great food.

There are always different food options, and the long tables in the dining room mean that dining times are also quite social occasions.

During our spare time, we have lots of freedom and can wander about the ship with ease.

The recreation (rec) room serves as a flexible meeting place where many a good game of ‘Articulate’ has turned competitive.

The gym is also open to us (although personally I feel more motivated to visit the canteen), and the flight deck is an awesome space where we are all allowed to hang out and watch the passing scenery (if we’re lucky, there’ll be dolphins or whales).

Another cool place to be is the bridge – where all the decision-making action happens.

It’s all go up there (the Navy use a whole extra language to communicate) and we’re allowed to watch the crew navigate and control the ship. Some of us have even had a go at steering her – how cool!

And last of all, the crew are all so easy-going and interesting.

Who knew we’d be jumping from the flight deck for a swim with the Naval officers, or playing volleyball with the crew in the huge cargo hold? They’re all helpful and up for a laugh, so the atmosphere out here is always awesome.

The Canterbury really is our floating home!

ABOUT LUCY TOTHILL

Lucy Tothill is in Year 12 at St Margaret's College, is a member of the school's arts council and the head of the writing and art clubs.

Lucy would like to inspire others to become more aware of environmental issues through her writing.

Lucy has a passion for the environment and for outdoor pursuits.

She is regularly involved in clean-ups and controlling wilding pine in the Hakatere conservation area, tree planting post-earthquake clean-up activities in Christchurch.

Lucy is currently working towards her Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award (Silver) and was a member of the St Margaret's College team that won the 'Spirit Trophy' on a recent Spirit of Adventure voyage.