Caribbean Voyage on the Corwith Cramer

This is our initial cruise track, which I create and send to the parents of students enrolled in the 12 week program.
We ended up significantly deviating from the track, thanks to strong trade winds.

As part of my on-the-job training at Sea Education Association (SEA), I spent 3 weeks in the Caribbean learning to sail and navigate the 134ft brigantine tall ship, SSV Corwith Cramer. Every morning I pinched myself and thought, "I'm getting paid to do this."

Corwith Cramer in Gallows Bay, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI

First let me premise with a surprising Vic factoid: predating my experience on board the Cramer, I had never before sailed. Okay, slight correction, I have thrice set foot on sailing vessels. It is my personal view though, since I was merely a passenger, I did not actually sail.
1. Dad takes Fred (age 6) and I (age 8) sailing on Dillon reservoir in a tiny-ass boat. Violent wind gusts roaring down steep 12,000ft Colorado mountain slopes hurl the tiny boat across the lake. Fred and I thought we were going to die. Not a fun experience. I learned sailing equaled death.
2. Family vacation in St Croix: took a trip to Buck Island on board a 25ft sail boat. I became terribly sea sick and assumed sailing equaled death + vomiting.
3. Sailed on a little sunfish with my dear friend, Beth, in Nantucket. No wind plus strong current equaled hilarity and inability to change course away from the harbor shipping lanes. We ended up jumping out of the boat and swimming/dragging it back to shore. I learned that sailing equaled magic.

View from bow looking aft, furled fore and course sails

Despite my previous sailing adventures, I remained determined to learn as much as possible while maintaining a positive attitude. Before students leave for the sea component, I always ask what they look forward to the most and if they are nervous about anything. Students reply with a variety of comments regarding the former, but are most nervous about their ability to overcome sea sickness. My hesitations were the same since, based on sailing experience #2, sailing equals death + vomiting.

Square-rigged fore mast & braces...Marconi-rigged aft mast

I also worried about functionality. What if I couldn't 'get it'? What if I was all thumbs? To prepare, I studied the physics of sailing. At the very least, if I understood how the ship operated under sail, the tactical components would follow. Chad taught me several knots (actually the knots were and still are difficult for me), how to operate a sextant, and tricks for computing compass deviation and variation. I hoped I could remember it all.

Cramer's binnacle and gimbaled compass

Ship's helm with rudder in neutral position...see the Turkish knot?

On November 22nd, ready or not, I flew to St. Croix, USVI and boarded the Corwith Cramer ready for anything and everything.

A Windy Day...seems to be the theme around here

That's right, another windy day! On Saturday, Feb 25th, WHOI recorded wind gusts between 50 and 60mph. The only difference? This time, the wind blew south-westerly, rather than the usual easternlyish direction.

WHOI pier to the left looking toward the largest of the Elizabeth islands with Martha's Vineyard in the distance

I took the majority of pictures from the observation deck at the MBL Club and Visitor's Center and could barely stand let alone hold the camera still.

Walking the dogs was a hilarious affair. Though Sandy wasn't blown around due to her low center of gravity, the wind whipped her fur in every direction. You could see loose fur flying off her. At the end of the short walk she looked like a deranged punk rocker. One strong gust lifted Tia from the ground and blew her sideways. Frightened and leashed, she ran around my legs, tying them together. The same gust sent sand and fur into my eyes. Now blinded and vertically unstable, I silently wished for no further calamity, but Sandy had enough and yanked on her leash to seek shelter. This tipped the scale and, like a falling tree-except for the briefest of moments when another wind gust rendered me weightless, crashed to the forest floor (or, in my case, parking lot). On that terribly ungraceful note, we immediately ended the walk. I made it out later in the day to take photos.

Waves crashing into the sea wall at low tide. National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) main building in the background

WHOI buildings...I'm crouched against the MBL pier gate trying not to get wet from sea spray. Again, low tide.

Chad and I rarely sleep through the night when wind gusts exceed 30mph. The constant moaning and groaning of lines (sometimes extra lines) is terribly loud. In the past, floating crap has hit the hull, as have other boats. Plus, we check on the bimini top and need to be ready if something happens. We didn't sleep well Saturday night, and neither did the dogs.