SEAmester Journal
Sent weekly from sea by students on-board SEAmester ...
11/22/05
Family and Friends,
I’m here to catch you up on our adventures from Cumberland Island, Georgia to our current anchorage in Luperon, Dominican Republic. Cumberland Island was beautiful, a near uninhabited island that we had all to ourselves. It is a preserved national seashore, and feral horses run free. We had a blast – frolicking on the beach, ultimate frisbee, and plenty of swimming, but it’s not all fun and games. Marine science classes had field trips to study the different environments, and we spent an entire day hiking a death march – about 18 miles total up and down the island, and one brave soul even completed the double suicide death march, 30 miles in all. We all had sore feet for a few days, but it was so worth it. We left Cumberland Island to stop in Fernandina Beach, FL, just for a few hours to stock up on supplies for our longest sail, the sail to the Bahamas. Everyone was extremely excited to reach white sandy beaches and the Caribbean sun, so we set out with high spirits bound for our first foreign port. The sail from Florida to San Salvador took seven days total, and it seemed to fly by because days overlap so easily out at sea. It’s hard to distinguish one day from another, and I personally find myself trying to count the number of sunrises and sunsets I have seen to figure it out. I think all of the students will agree that the sail to the Bahamas was an amazing experience, being out of sight of land, watching the water turn clearer and bluer the further south we went. We had fair winds and the sailing went smoothly. It was a time for us to practice our navigation abilities and catch up on classes. Dolphins swam off the bow almost everyday, and at night we were greeted with bioluminescence. For those of us who get claustrophobic quickly, it was a challenge waking up each day with a smile, but there were also those of us who couldn’t have been more comfortable out at sea for another week.
San Salvador, Bahamas was an amazing port, and believe me, it is definitely hard to concentrate on schoolwork and seamanship in paradise. We anchored offshore and we could see the sea floor from deck. The water was crystal blue and the island greeted us with open arms. For some of us, including myself, it was the first time leaving the country, and it couldn’t have been better. Our biology class was snorkeling on a coral reef, how amazing is that? For those of us that are SCUBA certified, we were able to dive on the reefs as well. The diving in San Sal blew Long Island diving out of the water! We saw tons of brilliantly colored fish, different types of sponges and coral, and even an octopus.
We all went through the “Cave of Indescribable Horrors” which was definitely an experience. Located on the other side of the island, we first rode in a school bus to a lighthouse, which is still operated by hand. After climbing to the top, we regrouped and set off on the trail towards the cave. It was pitch black down there and there were parts where we had to hold our breath and swim underwater to the next “room.” It was awesome, and you’re just going to have to ask the students more about it, because it truly is indescribable. The locals were friendly and I can safely say that everyone enjoyed San Sal immensely. We ended up staying in the Bahamas an extra day because one of the divers had an accident underwater and had to fly to Nassau to get checked out as a precaution. Don’t worry, though, she is well, onboard, and still having fun.
We finally left San Sal, looking forward to the favorite port of Luperon, and were only under way a day before we were back off the coast of San Sal. Captain Flansburg decided to turn around the night that we left because we encountered extremely heavy seas and high winds, both coming directly out of the southeast, directly where we needed to sail. Spirit was so far keeled over that we had to rig a lifeline from one end of the ship to the other, and I know I wasn’t the only one that was scared. We were soaked from head to toe, and tacking the ship was terrifying in the conditions we were in, attempting to haul on the sails when they were under such strain. So, before we had even left we were back in San Sal again, and remained anchored there for four more days. We all stayed on the ship, performing maintenance chores and catching up on sleep, classes, and homework. It was a relaxing, productive time. The injured diver flew to Nassau again for another check-up as well, and she’s doing great. We left San Sal a second time much more successfully, and it took us five days to get to Luperon. This last voyage is when claustrophobia really set in for a lot more people than before, and I think we were all happy to see land early that morning of our arrival.
The Dominican Republic is as beautiful as San Sal, but in a different way. Its mountainous and lush. We all stood on deck in awe as we sailed into the harbor, snapping photo after photo of the green hills and crashing waves against the towering cliffs. It’s very hot here, and the locals are extremely friendly. They are amazing people. We’re practicing our Spanish and making friends very easily. The way of life and standard of living here is different than anywhere most of us have seen, and it definitely took me a day to adjust. We went to the Seven Sisters waterfall yesterday, which was as amazing as the Cave of Indescribable Horror in the Bahamas. There are 27 levels total, and we climbed up 7 of them with four guides then slid and jumped our way down. We had to wear helmets and lifejackets for safety reasons, and it made for some good photo ops. It was amazingly awesome, and is definitely my favorite activity we have done this entire trip, and I’m sure many others agree. We also visited La Isabela, Columbus’ first colony in the New World. It is so beautiful here that it’s breathtaking, and I’m sure from here it only gets better. We just ate breakfast, and today we are visiting a mangrove swamp for biology class and hiking along the shore to a blowhole—where the crashing waves force water up fissures in the rock straight up, sometimes as high as 30 feet!
I hope I have given you a peek into our adventures, and know that we are all having a blast and miss everyone at home a bunch. I’m sure many of you at home have a countdown started until we arrive safely home, and as amazing as this trip has been, we’re all looking forward to a shower and a bed! Happy Thanksgiving! Up next is a writing assignment by a shipmate of mine from our Literature class about some of the work we do on the Spirit of Massachusetts. Enjoy!
~Janelle Hrycik
SETTING THE MAIN
By Shanna Madsen
The ship lay dormant, asleep. The high sun shriveled deck boards, searing the wooden planks. A hot breeze blew but nothing stirred.
“All hands to set the main!”
The silence was broken by the loud crack of the first mate’s booming voice, wrenching me out of my rack. Up flies the sound of feet hitting the companionway ladder, the student’s lazy contentment interrupted. Hands grab the stomp pad and the snatch block to run the main peak halyard out on the starboard side. Simultaneously, the crew members eased the turns around the main bits and laid out the lines that stretched across the length of the deck. With excited whispers, the students pass the lines further and further back. Rushing to the peak halyard, I grasped the already tense line.
“Take a strain!” the orders rang out.
My hands are already calloused and hard but they hurt every time I haul nonetheless. Everyone’s straining arms and backs sweat in the baking sun. “Can we just get this going, already?” I think to myself.
“Haul away peak and throat together!”
My aching muscles pull for all they’re worth on the halyard. Slowly creaking, the mast hoops rise up the mast in unison.
“Come on ya bunch of sallies, I’ve seen 12-year old girl scouts pull lines better than you!” barks the captain.
Briefly glancing around, I wonder who isn’t pulling their weight. My lungs feel like they might explode, I know I’m giving it all I’ve got. Heaving, the students all groan under the weight of the heaviest sail. Finally the sail begins to flap in the breeze, shivering as it fills with ocean air.
“That’s well your throat!”
Quickly putting on the stopper, the students dig in, being sure to not allow any hard fought line slip back. Lucky bastards, I think to myself as I continue pulling so hard my arms might rip off. To starboard we continue to battle against the peak. Hand over hand I haul for all I’m worth, even blacking out to a better place in my mind as my body takes all the abuse.
“That’s well your peak!”
Finally both sides can heave a sigh of relief as the deckhands make the halyards fast around the main bits. Sore muscles are stretched out but the break is brief.
“Hands to set the fore!”
And the work begins over again.
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