News

Monday, 15 June 2026
Noon Position: 41 deg 31.4’ N x 070deg 40.3’W
Weather: Heavy rain in the morning gives way to bright and sunny most of the day.  
Alongside Dyers Dock in Woods Hole, MA

Oh my goodness, what a day.  We have been busy from sun up to sun down!  It’s the final day of preparations and training before we set sail for the high seas.  I am excited to report that students began their training in the lab, learning how to operate our scientific winch and hydraulic J-Frame.  Both are used in tandem to deployed heavy oceanographic equipment.  Every student had hands-on, driving the winch, operating the J-Frame, and calling out proper commands while also observing all safety protocols.

Additional training introduced the responsibilities of standing deck Watch which includes: helm, lookout, Boat Check, and a turn at doing dishes in the galley!  While up forward, students were learning how to fit, adjust, and comfortably wear their safety chest harnesses.  These are worn during Watch so students can clip in while working near the ship’s rail and while traversing across the headrig (forward netting at the bow of the ship) during sail handling.  

In the afternoon there was a tour of Woods Hole and the many scientific organizations.  It was an exercise in keeping track of various acronyms:  Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) Discovery Center, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/NMFS), and of course SEA!  Each student had their own highlights from the tour, but for me it was taking a team photo at the commemorative statue of Rachel Carson – the famous marine biologist and environmental advocate who wrote Silent Spring and many other noteworthy books.  The afternoon tour was capped off with a  swim at a local beach!    

Back aboard our home the Corwith Cramer we were treated to a lesson by the Chief Scientist about the oceanography of the Gulf of Maine and waters around Cape Cod and the Islands.  This will be essential background information as students begin to collect data for their own scientific explorations.  

Believe it or not, all that in one day.  But all this hard work has paid off…. the students are now prepared to go sailing and take responsibility for the Watch.  One more full night of sleep and then we head out to sea.   

Cheers

Chief Scientist -Jeffrey M. Schell

P.S. From here on out students will be writing these blogs, so stay tuned!