Wind: SW Force 2
Seas: 2 feet
Clouds: 20% Altostatus
Temperature: 22 C
Barometer: 30.07 inches

We dropped our dock lines from the State Pier in New Bedford and set all four lowers on our way our of the harbor.  With the westerly wind we were able to set a course straight out of Buzzard's Bay where Ernestina was met by an ocean swell roling in from the south.  While Ernestina bounded through the seas merrily, more than a few of her company began to feel quite miserable.  As the ship's new crew were 'shown the ropes' above decks and below, Ernestina romped around the Sow and Pigs reef, past Gay Head on Martha's Vineyard, and then took a long tack back inside Vineyard Sound.

"Sea sickness is just a part of life on the Ernestina. Especially for first time big boaters.  It's kind of good to throw up 'cause you are relieved of the pressure in your stomach.  All you need is Saltines, water and plenty of air. It just took time.  Besides getting sick the rest of the day was fun.  We raised the sails and learned all about the boat."
            -- Beverly Rock

As things flattened out a bit behind the lee of Gay Head and as our shipmates regained their sealegs, we began to learn about navigation, the parts of the ship, and we talked about plankton both before and after towing a net which collected specimens that we learned to identify under the microscope.  We even had a plankton race to see which would sink most quickly: a paper clip, a binder clip, some masking tape and a rubber band. It was a close race!"

On the trip today we learned a lot of material and terminology. We  learned the parts of the boat and how to operate it safely. Specifically we learned: Both the main and the fore sails have similar parts including the boom, the gaff, the mast and the sail.  In conclusion we learned lots of exciting methods of using the sails.  Maybe you will learn too when it's your turn to come aboard!"
            -- SheVaughn White

It was a very full day which ended late with the song game on deck in
the dark at our anchorage in Vineyard Haven, and anchor watches tonight -- all night!

The chart to the right shows the first day in red.

Captain: Willi Bank
Program Coordinator: Inette Rex