Author's note: sorry for the poor internet connection from yesterday's post (hence the mayhem of posting which has now been remedied).
Today was a full day - very full of sailing. The students awoke this morning and hauled back anchor before breakfast, and sailed until dinner. Throughout the day they were broken into their watches. While the watches were in class they learned about estuaries. They learned the different parts of the estuary, like the difference between the shallow areas and the deep areas, jetties, etc. While they were sailing, the watches learned about navigation, how to box a compass, how to navigate, and how to steer the ship. They were also introduced to some more complicated things - the pins (what lines are what) on the ship, and specific knots and what their uses are. After watches ended the students relaxed a little and played some games, then worked on incorporating some of their new knot knowledge to make bracelets and necklaces. It was a very full day. The students seem to always be busy, and it is amazing how many things that the educators and crew can find to keep them busy and happy. Tomorrow will bring more adventures and more fun, and a new, exciting docking.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
New Bedford and the Whaling Museum
Today has been a very full day for the trip two CTY students. They began the day by hauling back from our anchorage just outside of New Bedford's hurricane barrier. The Lady Maryland docked behind the Ernestina, a large fishing topsail schooner that is currently in need of repair. The first thing the students did today was visit another vessel, the Osearch, that is dedicated entirely to the study of sharks. She is a one of a kind vessel, with unique equipment. Our educator informed the students that any sort of television show - whether it be National Geographic, Animal Planet, or Discovery - uses that vessel because it is that unique. The students were able to catch a peak of the vessel from the dock, and a brief introduction from the Osearch's crew, though they were not able to go on because of construction. From the Osearch the students walked through the town (which happened to be having an artisan fair today) and on to the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Right inside the museum were whale skeletons - a couple of right whales, and a blue whale which was still dripping oil. They were then treated to a guided tour of the museum by a very kind docent. He had the students experience how whales see, as well as pass around different parts of a whale, and the blubber of a whale that they were able to smell. One of the students thought it smelled like iced tea, and the poor museum employee was aghast. Whales are smelly, and not in a good way! It was an amusing moment. There was also a scale model of the Lagoda which the students were able to board and see the different components of a whaling ship. The museum also housed the oldest known example of scrimshaw, a busk dated 1766.
After the museum, the students headed across the street to visit the Seaman's Bethel. This chapel was used to help "reform" sailors, or keep them out of trouble. Today it stands as a monument to those in marine industries such as fishing. Herman Melville attended this same chapel before he set sail on a whaling vessel, and then immortalized the small church in his novel "Moby Dick." After that short stop, the students took a brief tour of the Ernestina on their way back to the Lady Maryland. The Ernestina was previously a very successful fishing vessel, which was then transformed into an exploratory science vessel by a man named Bartlet who took her to the Arctic. In WWII the Ernestina was used to transport supplies because U-boats could not detect her nor could their torpedoes go close enough to the surface to hit her. The ship was awarded 4 service medals for her work in the war. Then in the 1950s she was used to bring immigrants to America from Cape Verde. She was great to see, and the students headed back to the Lady Maryland with many great new experiences.
The Lady Maryland set sail and pulled off the dock, setting out for her next adventure, and even more experiences.
After the museum, the students headed across the street to visit the Seaman's Bethel. This chapel was used to help "reform" sailors, or keep them out of trouble. Today it stands as a monument to those in marine industries such as fishing. Herman Melville attended this same chapel before he set sail on a whaling vessel, and then immortalized the small church in his novel "Moby Dick." After that short stop, the students took a brief tour of the Ernestina on their way back to the Lady Maryland. The Ernestina was previously a very successful fishing vessel, which was then transformed into an exploratory science vessel by a man named Bartlet who took her to the Arctic. In WWII the Ernestina was used to transport supplies because U-boats could not detect her nor could their torpedoes go close enough to the surface to hit her. The ship was awarded 4 service medals for her work in the war. Then in the 1950s she was used to bring immigrants to America from Cape Verde. She was great to see, and the students headed back to the Lady Maryland with many great new experiences.
The Lady Maryland set sail and pulled off the dock, setting out for her next adventure, and even more experiences.
2013 Trip 2 pics up to Day 4
It's now Day 4 and we've been quite busy on Trip 2. Here are a few photos of the trip so far.
Coil down!
Hauling back
In the fore peak to flake chain
More coiling
Whales!
On the whale watch boat
Squid dissection!
2013 Trip 1 photos
Here are a number of photos from Trip 1.Pics from Trip 2 coming soon!
Visiting Mystic Seaport. The gang in front of the Morgan!
Squid Dissection with the captain.
Treats from the cook!
Did you know you keep your luck in your nose? Let's go fishing!
Navigation
Bucket!!!
On lookout
At the helm
Inside the Pilgrim Monument at Provincetown
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Day 2
The crew started off our nation's independence day at anchor off beautiful Provincetown, a port the boat has now become familiar with due to its close proximity to Stellwagon Bank. The crew was able to enjoy their breakfast with only a minimal amount of fog and after the dishes were cleaned up and put away and the duty chores done, the Captain found a window of us to go straight into the city dock.
The spot was previously occupied by a barge, a very special barge for the occasion of the Fourth of July because this was the barge from which all of the fireworks are going to launch later in the evening. A tug boat arrived and hauled the barge into the anchorage thus freeing up a spot.
At the dock, the crew was able to start performing some water quality experiments where the students were able to get their hands on various materials to test the water for salinity, turbidity, phosphates and nitrates, dissolved oxygen, and acidity (pH). This will be an ongoing experiment where students will test and compare findings from different environments they will experience throughout the trip.
The dock also allowed the students much closer access to the Dolphin XIII, the whale watching vessel where the students will spend the afternoon.
The weather was great and the students enjoyed being able to sit up on the top deck of the boat going 25 kts. Right off the Atlantic side of the Cape, almost immediately, a finback whale breached the surface and excited the students. They were well within 50 feet, almost so close that we could feel the spray of the blowhole (but just almost). Shortly after we ran across another finback displaying its long beautiful dorsal as it stretched through the water. Then, news came from another ship that a humpback whale was in the area. We sped off in the direction of other whale watching boats to gather around the humpback, Nile, named for a streak on its tail resembling the Nile River - a common traveler in the Bank. She put on quite a show for the students so much so that the boat stayed out an extra hour, without hearing one complaint from the students.
After disembarking, the students meandered around Provincetown soaking up the jovial atmosphere of the town including many little shops, artisans, and beachy decorations. They slowly made their way back to the vessel, prepared to leave the dock, and anchored just outside of the harbor, had the traditional fourth of July meal of hamburgers and fries, and are now preparing for fireworks that are going to be starting at any minute now...
The spot was previously occupied by a barge, a very special barge for the occasion of the Fourth of July because this was the barge from which all of the fireworks are going to launch later in the evening. A tug boat arrived and hauled the barge into the anchorage thus freeing up a spot.
At the dock, the crew was able to start performing some water quality experiments where the students were able to get their hands on various materials to test the water for salinity, turbidity, phosphates and nitrates, dissolved oxygen, and acidity (pH). This will be an ongoing experiment where students will test and compare findings from different environments they will experience throughout the trip.
The dock also allowed the students much closer access to the Dolphin XIII, the whale watching vessel where the students will spend the afternoon.
The weather was great and the students enjoyed being able to sit up on the top deck of the boat going 25 kts. Right off the Atlantic side of the Cape, almost immediately, a finback whale breached the surface and excited the students. They were well within 50 feet, almost so close that we could feel the spray of the blowhole (but just almost). Shortly after we ran across another finback displaying its long beautiful dorsal as it stretched through the water. Then, news came from another ship that a humpback whale was in the area. We sped off in the direction of other whale watching boats to gather around the humpback, Nile, named for a streak on its tail resembling the Nile River - a common traveler in the Bank. She put on quite a show for the students so much so that the boat stayed out an extra hour, without hearing one complaint from the students.
After disembarking, the students meandered around Provincetown soaking up the jovial atmosphere of the town including many little shops, artisans, and beachy decorations. They slowly made their way back to the vessel, prepared to leave the dock, and anchored just outside of the harbor, had the traditional fourth of July meal of hamburgers and fries, and are now preparing for fireworks that are going to be starting at any minute now...
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Welcome Trip 2!
This morning at about 0830 the Lady Maryland's new group of students stepped on board, full of energy and rearing to go, and bringing great weather with them! They met the ship at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy right next to the Cape Cod Canal. The crew received them energetically, ready to teach a new group of students all that they know. Introductions were made all around as the boat was being fueled for our new adventure. After all of the students had moved into their bunks and received a brief boat tour, the students and crew were invited for a tour aboard the Kennedy, the 500+ training vessel that the Academy uses to train their cadets. This ship was impressive! She is a converted cargo ship that houses 600 cadets during the school year. The CTY group got to tour her decks and a bit below, including the bridge where the captain and crew navigate the ship from. What a difference from the Lady M! After the tour we cast off the dock, taking the students in search of adventure. They had their first taste of hoisting the sails and what hauling on a line means as the Lady M sailed into Cape Cod Bay. Who knows what excitement awaits the students, especially with the Fourth of July just around the corner....
End of Trip 1
Yesterday marked the end of trip 1 and their adventure on the Lady Maryland. The night before they left, the students sailed down the Cape Cod Canal toward Massachusetts Maritime Academy, who were kind enough to host our students and the Lady Maryland. As we sailed, the students competed against each other in some "Schooner Olympics" and some final games. That night we anchored out, and the next day was spent busily cleaning from top to bottom which included a full deck wash, a full wipe down below decks, and a mixture of excitement and sadness over leaving. After field day (the big clean) the Lady Maryland raised anchor and set out for the Academy, and docked right in front of their 500+ foot training vessel, the Kennedy. In a bustle the students were packing their bags and headed for the dorms, leaving the Lady M for the last time. The students had such a great time that there was genuine desire to stay on the ship (despite the lack of showering!). Though there was a little sadness, they also know that great things await them back in Baltimore. They flew out this morning with some of the Living Classrooms and CTY staff and are no doubt back at campus - safe, and freshly showered!
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