Trip 2 is Underway!

Hello to the family and friends of our 10 newest cadets aboard the Lady Maryland!

Day 1 was an eventful beginning to what promises to be an even more eventful nine-day trip. The group was sad to leave some of their new friends behind after an action-packed week on land in Baltimore, but was excited to be flying to Gloucester to begin the sea-based portion of their three weeks at CTY. We walked to town for one last treat (ice cream…yum!) before setting sail. After sleeping at the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center Museum, the students had the chance to see the inner workings of a fish market in person! Though the smell was enough to make some bury their noses in their shirts, the pride won at the mock auction was well worth it.

A nautical name game began the relationship between the crew and cadets, and both could not wait to finally set sail together! The students had no idea how much coordination it would take just to pull away from the dock, but after learning a few essential new terms and techniques, they already looked confident and sea-worthy.

Remember how I mentioned that it was an eventful beginning? I wasn’t kidding! After a scrumptious dinner of tacos, a student spotted something far out in the water…it was a whale! This sighting is the first of the season aboard the Lady Maryland. We could not have asked for a more positive way to start our trip.

Everyone was definitely pumped up after such a great day. Here are their initial impressions:

I’m going to love it! –Aaron

Couldn’t be better. –Ben

Moves a lot, lots of rocking…saw a whale –Adrianna

Different from expections; tie so many knots. –Paul

Nice boat, love learning about sailing and marine life. Although, I miss all my friends from the C. Bay. We were really close and leaving them was really hard. Scared to get seasick. –Cap

I’m going to have lots of fun. We saw a whale today! –Rebecca

This was a complex system and hierarchy, with a whole set of new and unusual rules and teachings, but I’m loving the complexity. –Josh

It was the best day ever! -Max

It was awesome! -Zach

The whale was totally cool. -Ariella

Wednesday night, the cadets had the responsibility of a one-hour night watch, when they got to ensure the safety of the anchored boat.

All hands were on deck Thursday morning to raise the anchor and sail forth for the second time. After giving the trawl net a lucky sniff from our youngest sailor, we tossed it in to see what sorts of creatures may be swimming right near the Lady Maryland. And thus occurs exciting event number two: we caught a stingray (along with 2 crabs, a flounder, and a few other sea creatures)! Our cadets are enjoying the huge amounts of hands-on learning they are already encountering as they explore the wondrous world of whales.

Pictures to come!