Programs Blog

Saturday, 02 May, 2026.

Noon Position: (Lat and Long): 31 degrees 36.2’ N, 065 degrees 36.9’ W

Log (nm): 1879 nm

Weather / Wind / Sail Plan (from 1300 Watch Change): Steering a Close Haul under the four lowers on a starboard tack, winds southeast, Beaufort force of 4

Description of location: South of Bermuda

Hello again from this Maritime Mighty Oak!

Before I get into my personal thoughts after clearing out from the isolated archipelago of Bermuda, I will try to answer the question some of you at home may have if you have been keeping up with the Corwith Cramer’s tracker: why are you doing a whole “victory lap” around Bermuda? Well, to my friends and family, and the friends and family of the rest of the amazing crew here aboard the Cramer, the answer lies with Captain Alison and her skillful ability to read the weather. A low-pressure system is currently headed up the East Coast of the USA, and it is sending down a cold front that is bringing strong winds and scattered showers with it, which is likely to be upon us on Sunday. To better prepare for the frontal passage, we are going south so that way we will experience less intense frontal activity than if we were to attempt to push north through it, and having Bermuda, as small as it is, between us and the low will reduce some of the swell associated with the front. After the front passes, it looks like we will have favorable winds (knock on wood) to bring us back to Woods Hole, as we continue the final stretch of this voyage.

Our time in Bermuda was a blast. Touring the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo (BAMZ) with its Curator Dr. Robbie Smith was the highlight for me. Myself and the rest of the Myctophid Research group, along with a few other students and our wonderful fish TA Aiden got to see the specimens not on display, including a huge myctophid, bigger than any of the ones we have brought in. After the tour, I had the honor of seeing specimens of the endangered Bermuda Petrel, also known as the Cahow. Bermuda was a fascinating island in terms of topography; I could have spent hours by its cliffs watching the White-Tailed tropic birds fly alongside or exploring its many calm bays by kayak. As much as I would have liked to spend more time exploring Bermuda, I am excited to be back underway collecting data.

A white throated sparrow landed on the boat yesterday, May 1^st. The poor little traveler was likely blown off course, far from its home on the North American Mainland. While taking the occasional look back at it on lookout, two major thoughts crossed my mind: I hope it takes this favorable wind to Bermuda, where it can at least find food; and with this sign of home among the sea, what am I looking forward to the most upon returning to shore?

Seeing how we have only thirteen days left on this trip, I have curated a list of thirteen things I am excited for once I am back on terra firma, in no particular order:

1.     A cup of clam chowder, likely from Pie in the Sky in Woods Hole

a.     Cheap, plenty of food for what you pay, and good quality; they are generous on the oyster crackers too.

2.     Ice Cream from Somerset Creamery

a.     Cranberry Bog in a Waffle Cup is the only right answer

3.     A morning hike

a.     Maybe even with headphones until I reach a trail

4.     Presenting our Research

a.     We have all worked so hard, and soon we get to share it with you all!

5.     A nice bowl of pho

a.     A bowl of pho with friends from home (shoutout Louis and Christian) is the sign that school is done for me

6.     Riding a bicycle

a.     Not much room on the Cramer for a mountain bike

7.     Setting up my hammock on a clear night

a.     A night under the stars would be a nice change of pace from my low-ceilinged bunk, as cozy as it is

8.     My Summer Internship at AMNH

9.     A shower of continuous water

a.     The two-minute rinse gets us clean, but a long shower will be welcomed

10.  A weekend trip to the Catskills with Emerson

a.     It will be fun to explore the landscape of the Hudson Valley after being at sea

11.  New York Water

12.  A good bagel

13.  Nights of catching up with friends

a.     Over video games, or in-person

As excited as I am to return to life on land, journeying the Atlantic on a tall ship has been the experience of a lifetime. I have been thinking a lot today about what our deckhand Gray said about seizing as much of the remaining time as possible. Something is always going on aboard the Cramer, even the routine of evening galley clean-up. It will be strange to sleep at night, every night upon reaching shore in a place that will likely be much quieter than the fo’c’sle of a tall ship. I have grown to enjoy the bounciness of my bunk, to the extent that it was hard to sleep in the stillness of the harbor. These experiences are those that one will not forget easily, and I am excited to continue to learn more aboard the Cramer for these final days and take Gray’s advice to heart.

Today was our second day of phase three, and we are all settling in with our new Watch Officers and Marine Technicians. On Monday, we will begin acting as Junior Watch Officers and Junior Lab Officers, so we are all focused on preparing for the new responsibilities that will be given to us. Time really flies by aboard the Cramer, and I am sure these final two weeks will be no different.

Finally, I would like to apologize to my family and friends who I promised I would be posting on May 5^th, especially my mom. Hopefully the early blog post is a pleasant surprise!

Well friends, this is it for me! I hope you have enjoyed my blog posts, and I cannot wait to talk to everyone on shore. These next days are bound to have some great stories, so stay tuned to see what my friends have to say.

Fair Winds, Following Seas, and Friendly Trails,

Everett Gamache, A watch

Some members of A watch, bracing square

A group of Pro Crew and Students working to sweat the fish peak halyard