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This morning, Sunday,
June 29, 2003, we all gathered at State Pier in New Bedford
for a three day, two night sail on board the historic schooner
the Ernestina.
Just after 0900, we received a welcome from
Kristen Sharpless, the Program Coordinator. We then said
goodbye to our families and boarded the ship.
After some final safety details, we pulled
away from the Pier at approximately 0930. While still in the
Inner Harbor, we teamed our collective muscles and raised the
main, fore and jumbo sails. While setting the sails we were
treated to a very brief rain shower.
The students, Ashley, Erika, Erin, Jared,
Jeremy, Jim, Johnathan, Justin, Kristin, Krystal, Lindsay,
Randy and Richard, along with guest biologist Bob and Jim's
dad, Jim, and crew members, Adam, Alan, Amanda, Gretchen,
Gwen, Heidi, Jay, Kate, Kristen, Polly, Sam and Traudi and
Captain Willi were divided into A, B and C watches.
C watch went to work as soon as the trip
began. Watches consist primarily of bow watch,
navigation at the helm and boat check. Around 1230, the
jib was set.
Our course for today took us southwest out
of Buzzards Bay toward Rhode Island Sound. We sailed a
course of 200 degrees then 190 degrees past the Buzzards Bay
light tower. Once past the tower, we adjusted to 090 and
sailed between the Elizabeth Islands on our port and Martha's
Vineyard to our starboard.
Wildlife sightings were few. The most
notable were a common loon and an ocean sunfish. Captain
Willi set out a fishing line which succeeded in snagging a
lobster buoy. Within four minutes, the line had been pulled
out and snapped from the reel. He re-lined the reel and
finally caught a real fish, a 1 1/2 pound bluefish which was
released back into the water.
Also of note, an antifreeze bottle was
noticed by Richard out at the bowsprit. Had the motor been on,
the bottle may have been sucked into the propeller and been
chopped up.
As this is being written, several students
strapped on harnesses and challenged their fear of heights by
climbing the rigging and walking out on the bowsprit.
Lunch was very tasty; we are all looking
forward to dinner. It's been an awesome 8 hours so far.
We are all eager to attack the next hours.
~Written by Richard Racine-Martin and Bob
Rocha
Program Coordinators:
Polly Zajac, Kristen Sharpless
Captain: Willi Bank
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Anchorage for the night in
the Elizabeth Islandslooking over across to Marthas Vineyard.
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