Twenty-two Proctor Academy students have completed their first of nine weeks at sea aboard the World Ocean School's Schooner Roseway as a part of Proctor's Ocean Classroom program. After a stop at Woods Hole, Massachusetts and a quick sail to New Bedford, Massachusetts to learn about maritime history and the whaling industry, the crew set sail Friday morning for Norfolk, Virginia. Read student journal entries and check out photos from the journey thus far below!
Day 1: Friday. September 22 - Ellie '19
We woke up bright and early this morning at 0530 with a beautiful sunrise starting to happen over the horizon. Ocean Classroom students and educators were sad to say goodbye to to Hurricane Island but excited to start our next adventure aboard Roseway. After a quick boat ride to Rockland, we started our 4.5 hour bus ride to Boston. For lunch we stopped at a rest stop and stocked up on snacks for the rest of the trip. We arrived in Boston at 1300 with smiling faces because we knew we would see our friends and family! The time finally came when we were able to board the Roseway, we were able to unpack or “nest” (as the crew would say) before our family arrived. Finally the time came, our families started arriving for our final goodbye. Even though it was raining there was a smile on everyone’s face.
Day 2: Saturday, September 23 - Erim '18
It was an 0700 wake up, with the mist of the previous night lingering over the Roseway. We hit our deck wash stations at 0715. After deck wash, everybody on ship enjoyed a delicious breakfast. Once breakfast was over, all hands mustered midship to go through rotations. Once rotations were done, Cap went through the emergency protocols. All hands did a timed suit up of the immersion suit. At 1200, lunch was set. We left the dock following lunch with a bucket of water being emptied behind us symbolizing good travels. After making way out of Boston and into the Boston Harbor Islands, we performed MOB (man over board) and fire drills respectively. Recoursing ourselves to our final anchorage point for the day, we arrived to anchorage grounds. After taking a quick swim, fog started to descend onto the Roseway. Dinner was eaten at 1800 and after an evening of rest we mustered in the main salon to play a game. And finally we were relieved for the night except our night watches.
Day 3: Sunday, September 24 - Joey '19
Today was our first full day of sailing aboard the Roseway, as well as our first taste of what a full 6 hour watch feels like. The day was started off with an amazing breakfast consisting of potatoes and bagels cooked by Brian. A-watch didn’t have watch until 1300, so we had time to take in the beautiful view on deck or sleep in our bunks. I spent most of this time on deck relaxing with my fellow shipmates. A-watch ate minestrone for lunch at 1230, we ate first since we were the oncoming watch. I began with being at the bow then later moved to the helm once we got into the Cape Cod Canal. Everyone on land was waving and taking pictures of us, even all of the other boats were waving. It took us about an hour and a half to make it through the canal, we continued to sail past Ducksbury and eventually Martha’s Vineyard. On my second rotation to the helm there was a beautiful sunset behind us that had everyone’s attention. After the sun had fully set, A-watch finally had a Mexican type dinner which was amazing. After dinner we saw jellyfish and a squid off the port side of the ship, during that we were called into the salon for an excellent presentation put on by Ali and Matthew about Falmouth which is the port we will be visiting tomorrow. Once that was done we were let free to begin settling into our bunks.
Day 4: Monday, September 25 - Ben '19
Today marks our first port stop of the voyage on Roseway. We spent a day at wonderful Woods Hole, Massachusetts located on the Cape. After a nice breakfast of eggs and oatmeal, the group exited Roseway at 0845. Our first stop of the day was led by Hovey Clifford of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Hovey brought us onto the famous Falmouth ship called Atlantis. On Atlantis, the famous ALVIN lies and is used very often by the 23 scientists occupying the ship. One of the most interesting facts about Atlantis was the cost per day to work on the boat, tallying a whopping $45,000 a day. After the Atlantis we got to examine the diving labs and the marine organisms at the BR building with Scott Bennett. A funny fact about Scott is that he is from the same town as me. We ate Brian’s awesome sandwiches at 1200 and followed that with more presentations. The afternoon consisted of presentation by SEA. After a long wait with hunger lurking over us, we got back to Roseway and ate mango chicken and rice by the one and only. Tomorrow we continue pushing towards New Bedford with lots of energy!
Day 5: Tuesday, September 26 - Nasketucket Bay in Fairhaven, MA - Tom '19
Our first day of sailing began with a thick fog rolling over our docksite in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The boys and girls stumbled out of their bunks to an eerie seascape with the scent of pancakes and sausages in the air. We cruised the placid waters of the early morning while B-watch labeled canned goods in the salon until breakfast. After a delicious breakfast of pancakes and sausages, we broke through the outer wall of the fog and began our course to New Bedford, Massachusetts. The bold crew of 22 students had no problem raising all 4 sails for the first time, but a severe lack of wind forced us to motor-sail for most of the day as we passed Martha’s Vineyard and around Cuttyhunk into Buzzard’s Bay. Brian whipped up a spectacular lunch of butternut squash soup and Mediterranean rolls. At that point we cut the engine and went with the calm winds until our first history class with Matthew. Following class we had a relaxing rest of the day as we practiced tacking until dinner time at the usual 1800. Once again, Brian came through with a great garlic rotini alfredo and a sweet vegetable medley. Dinner cleanup passed by in a breeze although a bit more malodorous than usual with lots of garlic and vinegar smells wafting about the galley and salon. As some got ready to retire for the night, others were cracking jokes, playing cards, and squid jigging until lights out. None of us can wait to get into port for food and supplies on Thursday.
Day 6: Wednesday, September 27 - Nasketucket Bay in Fairhaven, MA - Cooper '18
The fog.
“It was an early morning in September and all of my sanity had been spent. I had been awoken for a boat watch, so to the engine room I went. With careful eyes I kept myself from botch.”
This was a bit of an improvised song that I did to a similar theme of Paddy Lay Back. Though back to the story…
This took place early morning. At about 0015 we were, trying to gain our bearings by triangulating our position. Then on the second marker it happened. The fog was first over the markers then gradually became thicker and closer. When staring afar from fog, it’s almost like looking at land that moves. It is a massive clump that elegantly floats across the sea and land. Though as it moves closer you don’t notice. When it is arriving or leaving, your vision clears or worsens. That is truly when it becomes apparent. When in the fog once you make it past the fact of the danger of lack of vision, it turns into almost a magic show. Today was a warm magic show. Boats appeared and vanished. Jellyfish were the only creatures that were constant. Then like a curtain pulling back, a group of leatherback sea turtles came to the surface. Looking at these sea creatures was a joy I can’t describe. That’s why I like the fog. It has this magic to it to reveal what it wants. When it does though, you never know what you’re going to see. Whether that’s a good thing is to be determined. Just one part of this long adventure.
Day 7: Thursday, September 28 - New Bedford, MA - Will '19
Today we sailed into New Bedford. We started the day of with our first navigation class with Captain where we learned about reading charts and finding our way into port. After that, we were given an hour to eat in town. Next we went to a fishing museum and learned about the history of local fishing culture. We finished the day with a history class on a grassy hill in the town then returned back to the boat for dinner.
Day 8: Friday, September 29 - New Bedford, MA - Chad '19
Woke up bright and early to the sound of Kai’s voice yelling about the fish. We had all sorts of plans for the day. Scheduled and organized. Once we finished breakfast we went to the New Bedford Whaling Museum and learned all about whales and whaling. We had split up into two groups and we got a tour of the museum. There was a very interesting exhibit about what whaling ships were and they had built an exact replica of the ships. After we took the tour we were given an hour to roam around the museum and gather information for a paper. But my favorite thing about today was the interview project. For this we had to interview a stranger and talk about fishing life in New Bedford. The man we interviewed told us he had been working on fishing boats his whole life and has been traveling around to find the fish. He told us his story and his memorable times at sea and it was inspirational. This is why Joey and I are starting the “Lobstah Boyz Company.” Back to the fishing man… He explained how he is planning on buying his boat so that he can be a captain like his father and his father’s father. After listening to all these stories, it gives you a different perspective on fishing life. We headed back to the boat and Brian was cooking up something tasty. You can smell it from across the lot. Brian made rice with meatballs and pasta. Very good food. We finished off the night with some soccer. Not really sure how it went. Goodnight!
