MA College of Art
Three-day SailWe sailed
off in full company today around 1130 under the
four lowers. Mainsail with a double reef, and it
was great sailing back and forth across Buzzards
Bay. We took the main and the jib in late
afternoon after drills and sailed under fore and
jumbo until after dinner. We anchored up in
Apponagansett Bay for the night. All secure
around 2030. Even though we did not sail through
the night as they wanted to do, they got enough
of a taste of it. Very cold and very windy and a
quite a few very happy to stop moving so much.
Here is the Day 1 write-up
by Tam Willey:
As I cautiously boarded the old Ernestina
on Sunday morning October 7th,
2001; I realized I was stepping onto a foreign
world full of ropes, pulleys, little beds,
propane, weathered faces, and a minutely
comprehendible language often addressing some
mysterious person by the name McFast (later
understood to be the term "makefast")
I threw my duffel bag down a little window
and climbed backwards down a steep ladder into
the "fish hold" where I could only
laugh in surprise realizing that for the next 3
days I would not find more than a 3ft radius of
personal space.
We returned on deck, shared names and tiny
bits of individual interests before a basic
explanation of the unidentifiable
assumed-valuable pieces of the beautiful
surviving Ernestina.
We squeezed out of the bay between a
triple parked protrusion of fishing boats into
rough seas and set sails. We worked together in 3
watches looking out at the bow, turning at the
helm, and checking the boat to make sure
everything was flying smoothly.
Mac and Cheese kicked off our 1st
lunch before seas got rougher, winds got fiercer,
air got colder, clothes got wetter and felt
thinner. Soon there were green and yellow bodies
harnessed over the side excreting vocally.
By dinner, all our guts were shaken and
much puke was given to the sea so our Captain
made the decision to anchor in the bay, which at
first was a relief. I slept like I was dead that
night and escaped from my own sickness before I
was gently awakened at midnight for my boat watch
duty with good old George. Day 1 was a full day
of extreme adventure and new experiences- some of
which were more comfy than others. Sailing the
Ernestina is no freakin joke, friends.
Lets get serious here, sailerpeople are
hardcore I wouldnt want to mess with
anybody with permanent rope burned hands. Rock!
-Tam Willey-
With the cold and the wind we
have decided to stay here at anchor for the day
on Monday. The temp in New Bedford is in the mid
40's and wind chill in the mid 20's. The day is
still full with many projects, and people are
staying warm.
Captain: Amanda Madeira
Program Coordinator: Crista Mellican
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