Trip 4, First Post!

Ahoy Mateys!

It’s been an eventful couple of days on the Lady Maryland, between getting stuck at Gloucester Harbor Port and finally getting to sail all the way to the Cape Cod Canal, the students aboard have been able to learn about navigation and the importance of being aware of the weather and surroundings. 

On the second day, still awaiting a favorable change in winds, we took advantage of the fishing town’s resources and caught some lobsters! They were set free shortly after, but not before everyone had a chance to see the catch. 

Aside from some occasional rain, we have beautiful sunny days, perfect for sitting on the deck and learning about Estuary Systems, whales, and other sea creatures. We also had the traditional Sink Off!  In which students designed boats with limited resources (4 popsicle sticks, a sheet of aluminum foil, and a strip of duct tape). The winner was “The Marvel”, with a unique bowl shape and the ability to hold up to 14 1oz fishing weights.

Finally, on Friday, we were able to set sail. We were magically awoken by a pod of dolphins, swimming right next to our ship. With that stroke of luck, and the help of our young sailors, the rest of the day was smooth sailing. They helped steer the ship, raise the sails, locate our position on a chart (marine map), and most importantly, stand lookout for any approaching danger. Stay tuned for more of our adventures!!

Day 5- Lady Maryland

Ahoy Mateys!

We’ve had an eventful last couple of days aboard the Lady Maryland. Anchor watches are going swell as the students are becoming experts in making sure our boat stays safe throughout the night. We’ve had some interesting discoveries in the midst of the night, such as new constellations and answering quirky night questions like finding out finding out everyone’s squid names.

Yesterday we went to the New Bedford Whaling Museum and discovered why it’s called “the city that lite the world”. We took an in depth look at one of the most significant whaling port in America, and how the whaling industry impacted the world around us. We also got to learn more about different types of whales by referencing actual whale bones in the museum. We continued the day by getting underway and sailing for a few hours. As evening grew closer we anchored off Nashon Island and treated ourselves to a swim call. We finished the day by learning about the sea around us and performing, some inky, squid dissections.

Land ho! Today we were able to spend an eventful day at our next port stop. We went to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and were able to look into their research initiatives and have a closer look at the technology used to explore and analyze the depths of the world’s oceans. Next we visited the local Woods Hole Aquarium and got to see some of our favorites fishes plus a lot of new ones up close and personal. We then went to another museum in which they showcased the engineering of the deep sea submersible Alvin and other oceanographic devices. We explored the quaint town of Woods Hole by going on a scavenger hunt and questing for some local treasures. We got to embrace our inner children and play some games on a large sandy playground for the rest of the afternoon. We were able to end the day by venturing out to a local creamery and treating ourselves to a variety of flavors of sweet homemade ice cream. Till next time, thanks for tuning in!

Trip 3, First Post!

Ahoy!

Here we are on day 3, and writing our first post. We have had an exciting time thus far aboard the Lady Maryland. When we arrived on the first evening to board the Lady Maryland, there was a mix of emotions in the air—some more excited to go on the endearing journey ahead than others, but all of them packed and ready to go for the adventure. We had an opportunity to discuss our personal goals for the trip and the overall sentiment included to learn the ways of a sailor, surviving life on the ship, and of course—sighting a whale!

We all went to bed as soon as evening rolled by, as we were to embrace night-watch duties on our very first night on the boat. We each took a little over hour-long shifts, all the way until 5am, to perform boat checks, review night orders, and ensure the boat was safely anchored and maintained throughout the night. We are to go through this routine on a nightly basis.

We have been quick learners as we have gotten accustomed to the way of life on the boat, including new lingo spoken on the vessel. “Hands to receive!” one hears as the crew are constantly passing things from above and under the deck of the boat. “Water!” everyone hears as we enthusiastically dump dirty water after washing dishes between every delicious meal on the boat. “Heave…ho!” the crew yells as we tug on the lines to set the sail as the ship goes underway. 

On our first full day, yesterday, the ship anchored on Narraganset Beach and took Swamp Fox, a small motorboat, to land. We took nets, went knee deep into the water, and fished for aquatic creatures in the local estuary. We were able to identify and discuss the local wildlife we caught and continued the conversation at a nearby nature center. 

Today the we were finally aboard the ship for a consecutive 24 hours. A few of us fell victim to the choppiness of the waves, experiencing seasickness for the first time. We discussed whales and wildlife, learned how to un-anchor the boat, and continued to learn how to navigate as well as steer through the ocean. As a crew, we used the Lady Maryland’s fishing net and caught some marine wildlife. We identified the creatures as a flounder and a spider crab. After examining them, we released them back into the water. It’s been a wholesome day, and one can see that everyone has truly gotten along and have been transitioning better to life at sea.

Until Next Time!

Lady Maryland Crew! (We are all crew now!)