Monday at 1430, six students boarded the Ernestina as a part of the Schooner Sound Learning Program.  These students are completing their third year in this program where they focus on learning about aquaculture through a variety of different methods.  The students have spent time in small boats and are currently building fishing poles.  As a culmination to their year, students will each spend one night onboard the Ernestina.

Today the students jumped right in and, despite their small numbers, raised the four lower sails, and got us underway for a great afternoon of sailing out of New Haven.  Once the sails were raised, students took part in many activities, including navigation, steering, knots, and learning the different parts of the boat.

After dinner the Ernestina sailed onto the anchor and the students helped strike the sails.  As a close to the night, students each presented a piece of the Ernestina’s history, from her years as a fishing schooner, to her trips to the arctic with Bob Bartlett, and finally to her time in Cape Verde.  As part of the ship’s crew, the students stood anchor watch throughout the night, and caught some rest before wake up at 0600.

Program Coordinator: Gretchen Stuppy
Captain: Sophie Morse

Here is the track for Monday (in red) and Tuesday (in green) with the color change happening at our anchoring spot just inside the westernmost New Haven Harbor breakwater. You can see the main channel into the port on the upper right.