Programs Blog

Saturday, 11 October 2025

Noon Position: 041° 30.6’ N X 069° 39.1’ W

Ship Heading: 040° PSC

Ship Speed: 5.5 knots

Log: 110 nm

South Wind, Force 3, seas 2-3 feet

Ships Location

The tables are unlocked and fully gimballed (staying level as the ship rolls) because we have left the protected waters between Cape Cod and the islands and entered the more open waters of the Gulf of Maine. As someone who grew up on the coast of Maine, it feels like a bit of a homecoming. But, enough about me.

Today was all about adjusting to the watch schedule for a full, 24-hour day underway. Each watch is a little different with a variety of activities attached to each of them. Morning watch began at 0700 and took us off the anchor and out into Nantucket Sound. That watch included some specific ship duties, science stations (including a sediment sample from the sea floor!), and the coaching of professional crew on the preparation of reports. After a delicious lunch that our student steward, Mary, prepared alongside our two professionals, the afternoon watch took over duties at 1300 so that the morning watch could enjoy their meal and stand down. Afternoon watch lasted until 1900 and included class (with more science!) and the setting of some of our square sails. As I write, the evening watch has started preparing for their surface stations in lab (involving the collecting and processing samples taken with buckets), readying the galley for another day, and sailing at night! The dawn watch will begin at 0100 and wrap up any remaining science work, including the processing of a neuston tow, and preparing some reports on weather and science. Dawn watch ends with sunrise and the delightful smells of breakfast wafting up out of the galley hatch.

It’s a busy 24 hours, and I trust that you will hear more about the details of these 6-hour watches as students begin their own entries for the blog next week.

Thanks for keeping up with these posts!

Craig