Greetings from Connecticut!  Today has been a sail-filled, fun-filled, and rewarding day.  The day began by the students once again sailing off the hook (anchor), which is quite the impressive feat.  After breakfast our student began their first day of rotating watches.  The students are split into two watches while on board, the starboard and the port watch.  While one is "off watch" doing classwork, lessons, and field tests, the other watch is learning how to sail and care for the ship.  Today's "off watch" time included a lesson on brackish water (complete with illustration!), the different types of estuaries, and the similarities and differences between different whales.  While "on watch" the students learned how to complete a boat check (which includes checking the bilge, weather, etc.), how to navigate, the look out system, and how to steer the Lady Maryland.  Both watches completed each cycle until about dinner when the captain declared it was time to go fishing!  The net was cast over the side, and then a catch hauled in.  The students searched the net for living creatures and placed them in buckets of water to keep them safe and living.  They then cracked open the books, and set to work identifying an array of creatures.  Before they knew it, dinner was served, and the cook Michael presented his specially prepared dish.  Before the ship had left Cold Spring Harbor, the crew acquired fresh, live clams from a clam boat that was working in the harbor.  The students helped to keep them alive for the day and then Michael cooked them for the students and crew.  Incredibly fresh, and incredibly tasty! It was a true treat.  Tonight the students will enjoy a movie called "Around Cape Horn" and a snack of popcorn.  It will be a relaxing and engaging evening for sure!