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Date: Sunday, June 17, 2001

UMASS BOSTON "Exploring the Coastal Environment"

Sailing through the night went well with the new hands on board despite the foggy, damp conditions. The students are kept busy on watch learning navigation, plotting our position on the chart, rotating through bow watch, steering the ship and hourly boat checks. Once the students and crew are relieved from watch everyone heads staight for their bunks to catch up on lost sleep. Before lunch all hands participated in emergency drills on board, an important requirement for a sail training vessel.

The Drlls included "Fire in the Forepeak", and a "Man Overboard" drill. All hands walked through an Abandon Ship Drill discussing the deployment of the Liferafts, and Small Boat and 2 Dories.

We proceeded through the fog heading for the Isle of Shoals under the Four Lowers, enjoying the Force 3 Southerly Breeze. A couple of Minke Whales surfaced for a quick look on their way south.

By late afternoon a front was approaching the Boston area with high winds and up to 4 inches of rain forecast. We fired up the Main engine to pick up speed towards the Shoals.

By 1600, 13 miles south of the Islands, the wind shift to North, and heavy
rain fell from the everchanging clouds that swirled low around the vessel. At 1700, a small 18 foot power boat popped out of the the fog and sped alongside. On board were 8 cold and wet persons who announced they were
lost. The Coast Guard had been searching all day for these people. The Mate set up a towline, and we gave them some food, water, and spare clothing and rain gear, and radioed our position to USCG Station Portsmouth Harbor. 20 minutes later a Coast Guard 41 footer arrived on scene, and escorted the vessel to Rye Harbor.

Ernestina arrived at Gosport Harbor at 1930, and we anchored in the lee of Smuttynose. The Front finally passed around Midnight, and for the first time in 5 days the visibility improved. The Coast of Maine and New Hampshire appeared for those standing Anchor watch on deck.

Captain: Willi Bank
Program Coordinator: Crista Mellican

We would like to thank Lotus and IBM for donation of software, hardware and funding to enable regular electronic updates from the ship.

NOAA Chart is provided courtesy of Maptech using Cruising Navigator 4.3 and grabbing the image using Grabit Pro 6.02.

 
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Copyright 1997-2001
Schooner Ernestina
89 North Water Street, P.O. Box 2010, New Bedford, MA 02741-2010
phone 508.992.4900 -- fax 508.984.7719
www.ernestina.org

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