Time on the Vaerdal - back to WA

This final deployment was short and sweet - I completed just over a month on a flatfish factory boat called the Vaerdal. I was paired with another observer on this boat and we worked a 12 on 12 off schedule. For the first week and a half we had a pod of 10-15 killer whales swimming next to us feeding on discarded fish. It was amazing to see so many whales so close to the boat. Toward the end of the deployment I experienced my first significant Bering sea storm and thankfully didn't get at all seasick. The boat finished up fishing earlier than expected and instead of sending me off on another boat my contractor decided to send me back to Seattle for a final debriefing.