| Bourne High School: Our Memorial Day
began with uncertainties about spending seven
hours sailing in Buzzard’s Bay with
impending rain and thunderstorms. The weather
predictions didn’t damper the enthusiasm of
21 Bourne High students and chaperones, led by
Carly Jane Dunn, who came aboard ready for
whatever might be dealt to them. The track for
the sail is shown in green to the right. With southerly winds we headed out of
New Bedford Harbor setting the foresail and
jumbo. The students broke into smaller groups and
met with individual crewmembers to learn more
about navigation, steering the vessel, and the
different lives of the Ernestina over the past
107 years. They also got a chance to use a
plankton tow and examine some specimens with
microscopes.
After a relaxing lunch we had
our traditional moment of silence. Ms. Dunn added
a few words about Memorial Day as she dropped a
purple Iris into the ocean in honor of those
remembered.
The afternoon activities added
more excitement to the day. We dropped an otter
trawl in Nasketucket Harbor and pulled up both
male and female skates, black sea bass, two
species of flounder, cunner, tautog, tunicates,
knobbed whelk, a squid egg case, and numerous
crabs, may of which were pregnant. While some
students were helping with the trawl, others were
trying their hand at knot tying and using some
traditional sailing tools. The students then had
the opportunity to take a closer look at the
animals and climb out on the bowsprit.
The rain had held off for most
of the day but thunderstorms came just as we were
on our way back to the dock. However no smiles
were lost, it just made everyone appreciate the
day even more.
Symphony Music
There was another sail today
with Symphony Music up from up on Route 6 near
the New Bedford/Dartmouth line. The
thundershowers had passed and a cooler NW'ly
breeze came up with a nice sunset and plenty of
great music!
Captain: Willi
Bank
Program Coordinator: Crista Mellican, Polly Zajac
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