Here, aboard the Schooner Ernestina, life is calm and pleasant, for the moment. The crew works hard every day to raise the sails and control the boat. The participants join in and work along side the crew.

Today, all hands woke up at 0600 and had a delicious breakfast at 0630. Morning chores were done and a plan for the day was made. By 0730, the anchor was being raised so we could get close to the dock in Vineyard Haven. As we approached the inner harbor, we were greeted by the crews of the Shenandoah and the Alabama. The three schooners looked breath-taking together. Watch by watch we were shuttled ashore to meet with Fred Littleton, a "Bartlett Boy" from the 1940 expedition to the far north, who lives on the island. Fred was aboard the ship when Capt. Robert Bartlett led expeditions to the Arctic each summer and the ship's name was the Effie M. Morrissey.

Once ashore, the students walked around the village of Vineyard Haven with Fred leading the way. He started at the boatyard of Gannon and Benjamin. They had just launched a new schooner named Rebecca. Fred told very interesting stories about wearing the same clothes all summer on the ship and when his parents picked him up in New York, he had to ride in the backseat all the way home to Philadelphia. When they arrive, his mother burned his clothes in the backyard!

As we continued on our walk, we were guided to Mad Martha's, the BEST ice cream store in the island. We were treated to more stories of the North and Capt. Bartlett. Fred was onboard when they captured Carmine, a polar bear cub for the Philadelphia Zoo. He also sailed up to the latitude of eighty degrees north!

After the visit, we returned to the ship and got underway. The wind was blowing at 25 to 30 knots as we entered Vineyard Sound. Waves came crashing on to the deck and the bowsprit got covered with water as the ship rode the waves. It was so exciting! The ship reached a speed of 8 knots under sail.

We anchored at Ricketson's Point off South Dartmouth. There, all watches put on funny skits about some the events during the trip. A good time was had by all.

(Written by A-watch)

Captain: Willi Bank
Program Coordinator: Inette Rex, Polly Zajac