| This morning fetched up so much fairer
than yesterday—yay!! We struck sails last
night after dinner in the rain; not easy work,
but well accomplished by the ISACS student
diversity leaders from the Midwest. So this
morning, after breakfast, it was (sadly) time for
packing up bunks; then we raised anchor and
sails, and headed out into Boston Harbor to enjoy
a morning islands cruise. B watch took the
opportunity to learn about Ernestina’s
cross-cultural history with Traudi (something
they’d missed yesterday), and nearly half
the students and adult participants jumped at the
morning’s opportunity to climb the rig.
Those who did were well rewarded by stunning
vistas from aloft—taking in Boston, gleaming
in the sunshine, and handfuls of the
‘emerald jewels’, Boston’s Harbor
Islands. It really is something to stand in the
rig 100’ off the deck and gaze at those
impressive sails stretching away beneath you. All too soon it was time to strike sail
and prepare for docking. At our closing circle,
we all expressed a hearty wish to sail together
again. And Ernestina’s usual closing
Certificates of Completion were this time
reciprocated—with an elegant glassed+framed
Expression of Appreciation from ISACS:
For
the Captain and Crew of Ernestina:
"On the
20th Anniversary of her donation
to the People of the United States ~ August
25, 2002. Youth leaders as their adult
advocates from the ISACS Midwest Diversity
Committee hereby proclaim sincere
appreciation for DILIGENTLY AND FAITHFULLY
preparing the ship for our arrival on the 20th
Anniversary of the donation of this historic
landmark. By the example of your COMMITMENT
to the schooner’s mission, you have
inspired us. The Ernestina is hereby
proclaimed FULLY ACCREDITED as the first and
only ‘ISACS Sailing School Vessel’.
Viva Ernestina, Viva Independencia, Viva
ISACS!"
~Signed, John Braman, President,
ISACS—and by all the participants.
Needless to say, the crew felt
touched and honored with the opportunity to host
and sail with such a group.
AND… We didn’t have
long to bask, because the ISACS group, as they
departed with their gear down the long docks at
the Shipyard Quarters Marina, passed the oncoming
group of students from the GREENS FARMS ACADEMY.
They exchanged greetings –"It was
great! You’re going to have a great
time!" and went on their way to caucus for
their own leadership planning in the Charlestown
Navy Yard Visitors Center, and to peruse a bit of
Boston before heading to Logan for departing
flights to the Midwest this evening.
The
Greens Farms group of 10th graders (a
veteran program on Ernestina) came to the ship at
about 1245, piled their gear on the docks, and
generously meandered off to enjoy some respite
time ashore for a few hours while the crew
readied the ship for their trip. Their fellow
classmates continued by bus up to Portland to
meet schooners Spirit of Massachusetts and Lettie
G. Howard, with whom we’d intended to sail
in company. (We’ll meet up with them as
we’re able mid-week.)
At about 1600, we were ready to
welcome Greens Farms onboard. So after a brief
greeting on the docks, students with all their
gear climbed aboard, got name tags, and gathered
round the wheel for our opening muster. After
brief introductions (with this gang, favorite
fictional characters ranked heavily in the
cartoon-character realm, so we couldn’t
forget they’re a whole new group) and a
safety talk, we got right off the dock and out
into busy Sunday afternoon Boston Harbor channel.
Orientations to watches, holds, and line handling
got underway immediately, and by the time we
dropped anchor (right in our same spot inside
Peddock’s Island), orientations were
complete and it was time for all hands dinner on
deck. No one can say Ernestina’s crew
hasn’t gotten right back into the groove!
After dinner and galley, Mate
Fred Sterner offered a thorough introduction to
the repairs and keel work completed just this
week in yard, to preemptively address any
questions that might be lingering in the
teens’ minds about their good ship and her
health. After such a stimulating day, it
wasn’t easy to settle into bunks—but
anchor watch and a full day of sailing and
programming will surely help make that easier
tomorrow. The crew climbed gratefully into our
bunks as soon as opportunity allowed!
Program Coodinator: MaryHelen Gunn
Captain: Amanda Madeira
|
 The last leg of the ISACS program
in the morning was virtually the same as the
first for Greens Farms Academy (except in
reverse). The chart image above shows the track
of the ship from Charlestown Navy Yard at
Shipyard Quarters Marina to Peddocks Island
anchorage in the Boston Harbor Islands.
|
