Fall 2001 SEAmester East Journal

Sent weekly from sea by students on-board SEAmester ...

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SEAmester Log, Part 8

Last Leg, Two Entries, Early December 2001

We set sail on Sunday, Nov 25th around 1400 (2pm for the land folks) from Luperon, Dominican Republic. Luperon had been a great port to visit. We had an exciting day, Saturday, visiting the waterfalls in the surrounding hills and Christopher Columbus’ house. It was a great port but I was happy to get underway again. Then Captain Smith informed us of the swells and possible rough weather that lay ahead. I was excited, hoping for good sailing. And, after our poor luck in the States, we had two and a half days of fair winds, decent, sometimes eight foot swells, altogether great sailing!

We stood the normal watch rotation of four hour watches, which proved challenging at times because a lot of the students decided to have a seasick party on the leeward rail. I was always busy though, doing boat checks or standing bow watch, or checking on the sick people. There definitely was no boredom on the Harvey Gamage.

One of my favorite duties aboard is bow watch. While standing bow watch on what may be my last dawn watch of the trip, I got to listen to the wind, watch the ocean, and think. I really understand where the love of sailing comes from. At one point on our watch, the wind picked up and we were making almost 10 knots. Its an amazing feeling, standing by the shrouds, holding on as another swell rocks the ship. I looked out and all I saw were ocean and clouds. Its incredible, so great a feeling that I can’t describe it. When someone asks me what my favorite part of the trip was, that’s my answer.

-Alli Chaillet
SEAmester Student

A Final Note:
Well, it has been quite a trip. From the snowy days of Gloucester to the warm days of the Caribbean, the past nine weeks have been a conglomeration of learning experiences. Each student boarded the Harvey Gamage on the nerve-wracking day of October 6th knowing almost nothing of what was to come. Over the next nine weeks, experiences like biking in Provincetown, canoeing in the Okefenokee Swamp, hiking 30 miles across Cumberland Island, crawling through caves in the Bahamas, trekking 7 kilometers uphill to Haiti ’s Citadel, and snorkeling and diving the British Virgin Islands have helped us learn more about ourselves than we ever expected in the beginning. Living with 31 people in 131 foot long boat has been one of the most character building experiences of our lives so far, and above all, we have learned the benefits of tolerating others’ differing personalities. Routines like raising flags, field days, cleaning heads, washing dishes, swim calls, waking for watch, and most especially, setting sail have all become daily events in our microcosm of a world. Learning these tasks that are necessary to keep the ship afloat and running have made us more well-rounded individuals who can now appreciate more (and not take for granted) our daily lives as we return home.

On a personal note, I have learned to appreciate the small things in life and have opened my eyes to my own goals and capabilities. The places I have been and people I have met have helped me realize that there is more to the world than I ever imagined and that SEAmester was only the beginning to the endless possibilities of fortunate travels.

Thank you to all family, friends, crew and students who made Fall SEAmester 2001 possible and truly enjoyable for all 21 of us!

-Gretchen Frick
SEAmester Student

Scences from SEAmester Fall 2001

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Previous Fall 2001 SEAmester East entries:
Log 1: Prof. Chris Hamilton
Log 2: Marissa Benigno
Log 3: Andrew Hudak
Log 4: Skye Schmidt
Log 5: Jayme DiStefano and Monica Ellis
Log 6: Samantha Hulkower
Log 7: Adam Nardelli, Jen Norton and Mary Wozny

Prof. Hamilton's Journal Archive
Spring 2001
Fall 2000