This final day was a terrific one for this new-found team of able hands onboard the schooner Ernestina. In the light morning breezes, we woke up 10 minutes early (0620) to set the Foresail before breakfast. After our all-hands muster, it was immediately to Field Day, a full-on cleaning of the boat's holds and decks. With unflagging energy, we [nearly] sailed off the anchor right on schedule at 1000.

The four lower sails, and then even the jib topsail were set. It was a scorching, melting day inland, but on the Bay it was just a fine warm day for sailing. B watch took the decks (and a few climbed the rig) while A watch explored the Tools of the {schooner-building} Trade with Polly, and C watch brought to life new understandings and experience with watersheds in MaryHelen's class. Two in this group live in Las Vegas NV, and this really enriched our conversation about watersheds in our backyards and in the whole United States. Before we knew it, it was nearly time for lunch.

A few helpers assisted crew members in preparing for the Otter Trawl and in striking the jib-top (furling on the bowsprit underway is a whole new adventure!) and right after lunch, crew and students worked together to strike the mainsail and then set the trawl net. Hauling the net back aboard all together only FELT like it took forever; as soon as our catch was on deck, everyone got into checking out the ~12" summer flounder, 4" black sea bass, 2" scup, and myriad other bay creatures we coddled in our saltwater tubs for a while. Some students looked up the species and phyla in books from the ship's library, and our scribe kept notes on our findings, but most just looked and touched and asked questions and explored a bit of the undersea world.

By the time we cleaned up, it was time to strike and furl the fore and jumbo and let out a celebratory WHOOP as we slipped through the New Bedford hurricane barrier. Our closing muster brought cheers and congratulations and a warm sense of camaraderie all around. Students had been collecting email addresses throughout the afternoon so they could stay in touch. All were impressed with how well this group of mostly-strangers had pulled together into a cooperative, capable team in just three days.

As we were docking, C watch students were asked about their favorite parts of the day. They said:
-"The otter trawl!"
-"Looking at all those animals and stuff from under the water"
-"I never knew all that stuff was down there!"
-"The Flounder, the crabs, and the shells."
-"Being in the rig"

Back at the dock, the onshore heat quickly engulfed us; and it was a bittersweet moment as the students passed their gear ashore, said farewell, and rejoined their eagerly-waiting families.
~MaryHelen Gunn~

Captain: Sophie Morse
Program Coordinators: MaryHelen Gunn & Polly Zajac