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Dear Diary,

we are still in Lowestoft. It has been a very long week though Carsten has tried to keep us occupied.

We gave the ship a thorough cleaning - it's amazing the amount of food that falls between the floorboards and the smell! But The Sea Stallion is sparkling now.

We worked very hard - all the floorboards were taken up and scraped and washed and below deck was also scraped and washed. I cleaned my 'room' in midships. Each bench or thwart on board is the 'room' of an individual crew member and that is where we eat, sit, row and sleep. My room is 1F - that's the first room in front of the mast.

The day after cleaning the ship we did some safety routines in case of an emergency at sea. This is very important and the safety of the ship and the crew is the priority at all times.

On Wednesday we did mast-drills where we lowered and raised the mast. All the crew worked together to lower the mast carefully into its mast rest in the Lofting. I worked on the A-Frame - a special piece of wood that helps to guide the ropes holding the mast - with some other midshippers. The ship looks quite strange with the mast down.

To be honest I think the crew and I just want to be on our way now. When Carsten was selecting the crew he explained that by the end of six weeks you can really get to know yourself as your limits are pushed and the other crew members too. I think that is more true here in Lowestoft where we have been for the last 8 days. There has been a lot of time to think and it can be very disheartening when you want to sail but the wind keeps you in the same place. Still, the crew work hard on keeping up morale and minding each other.

Fingers crossed my next diary entry will be from our next port of call!

Miss you.
Take care,
Erik