Programs Blog

Bella Kassa, B Watch, University of Michigan

Ship’s Log

Noon Position
024° 27.3’N x 081° 39.9’W

Ship Heading
060°

Ship Speed
7.6 Knots

Taffrail Log
76 Nautical Miles

Weather / Wind / Sail Plan
Port tack on a beam reach under a shallow reefed main, mainstays’l and forestays’l

Description of location
Around 10 nm off the coast of the Florida Keys headed through the Florida Straits

Souls on Board

C-303 is underway! After two nights spent at anchor practicing drills and learning about ship operations, we finally hoisted up the sails and are making our way to the Florida Straits! As much as I enjoyed learning about all of our emergency procedures, I’m ready to get my hands on some sails. I think it will be awesome to see my shipmates and I progress in our sailing knowledge and learn how to (somewhat) independently sail the Corwith Cramer.

Without port stops, I think the extended amount of time on the ship will allow us to really feel in control of the ship.

Since we’re off today, we also start standing watches. The last two nights we’ve been helping the professional crew stand anchor watch and learning how to do a good boat check. For those at home, a boat check is done hourly to ensure that every part of the ship is running smoothly. We check for anything out of the ordinary throughout the watch to catch any issues before they become… real issues.

Since our anchor watches have only been 1(ish) hour long, it’s definitely going to be a change moving towards 6-hour long watches. My first watch will be 1300 – 1900 today and I get to help Abby and Amy (the engineers) in the engine room! I really don’t understand what engineers do, so I’m very excited to find out what makes our floating home function!

To my concerned family and friends, I have NOT majorly hurt myself or fallen off the boat. I know my mom is worried so I’m happy to report a negative on both accounts. I will say, I have a surprising knack for bumping my head on everything ¬– sails, poles, the top of my bunk, etc. I probably could set a record for the sheer number of different places on my head that I’ve hit in the last several days.

Fortunately, since I’ve gotten comfier on the Cramer, my head hitting has slowed significantly with no signs of lasting brain damage! I’m also not seasick (yet!) which feels significant since everyone told me I would be. Take that, haters!

I want to give a big fat birthday shoutout to my sweetest, bestest, kindest friend Molly!! I miss you and I love you always! I hope you have the best 21st of your life. I’ll be somewhere off the coast of Florida singing you a happy birthday song 🙂 For all my friends and family at home, I miss you! I can’t wait to share all my sailing knowledge and stories with you and be SO casual about it! (Totally, joking. I plan to be very overexcited.)

Lots of love!!!

Bella Kassa, B Watch, University of Michigan

Contact: Douglas Karlson, Director of Communications, 508-444-1918 | [email protected]