First Day Out (Session 1)

This entry marks the first day out on the boats for the session one students. Each student will have at least one opportunity to write an entry.

This post was written by Sarah:
"First day entry...what to say? Bobby fell off the boat; Grey was forced to sit in the Engine Room since he caught the smallest amount of trout; Joan got so scared when she spotted that shark, she dropped her duffel bag into the channel.

Okay, okay...none of those people actually exist. But that's what everybody seems to think will happen when I've told them I'm taking a whales/estuary system class, which spends half of its duration on an old-school boat (super old-school; its the last pungy schooner in existance) called the Lady Maryland.

"Whales?! Oh man, you're going to have an interesting adventure...tell me how it goes."
"Wait, are you going to go out onto the ocean? Can you swim?"
"Whose genius idea was this?" Are some of the questions I usually get from my peers along with profuse laughter.

But despite everyone's doubts, our class departed for our boat (monday) morning. We briefed, we roped (or lined rather), we knotted, we spoke in ship language. What's even better though, as I see my fellow CTYers battle it out over ERS (a card game) at 9:40pm, is that we're starting to get to know each other. It will be unavoidable, as we're all (yes, all eight boys and two girls) sharing bunk quarters that double as a kitchen and get sweltering hot in the confined below deck space. In fact, we won't be able to journey more than 100 feet from each other for our whole nautical experience.

And despite small drawbacks--all belongings must be on our bed at all times, the bathroom has less than three sq. ft. of floor and is complete with a hand-pumped toilet, not to mention that the two of us girls cleaned the floor not once, but twice today--when we see that open water and laugh together about our experiences while playing "two truths and a lie," you know its all worth it.