Under overcast skies we motored out the channel as watch groups completed their decks and safety orientations, and then we raised the fore and jumbo. By 1000, the full B-watch took command of the decks, while A+C watches identified and shared their goals for the trip. Immediately we created a plan for meeting those goals, which ran as follows:
-Have fun
-Talk to each other
-Learn about the Ernestina's people
-Get to know more about each other's lives
-Learn a few sea chanteys
-Learn more about food webs in the sea
-Dive into deep intellectual conversations
-Talk about diversity and cultural issues facing our schools-with each other and with the crew
-Learn the sailor's life--knots and terms and signals
-Learn/talk about the environment and how we're affecting it

For the rest of the morning, these two watches dived deep into conversations about diveristy on the personal, institutional, and cultural levels-tackling with insight and sensitivity questions like What is racism? What is discrimination? How am I affected by institutional racism? What does it mean, and how does it feel, to be in the minority? What can we do as students to effectively combat racial stereotyping? This group consistently bunks myths of "stereotypical" adolescents!

As we passed through the Cape Cod Canal we were greeted by a few zealous, and jubilated Ernestina crew members surprising us as a 'cheering committee' - complete with banners!-RUNNING along the Cape-side bike trail, cheering on our beloved, revived schooner. Amongst all these wonderful 'distractions', just before lunch, Traudi and MaryHelen introduced the students to some of Ernestina's cross-cultural past lives and people.

A brief break after lunch (we'd raised the mainsail between seatings) gave everyone a much-needed window of time for reflection, relaxing, and getting to know each other. B watch, just relieved by C watch, dived into a full afternoon of diversity conversations; A watch engaged with MaryHelen in learning about the ecology of Stellwagen Bank - plankton, nutrient cycles on land and at sea, baleen, Gulf of Maine, whales, North Atlantic current cycles, and more - followed by introductions to the design and construction features of these old schooners that made them so advantageous.

All the ISACS folks gathered and munched watermelon slices at 1600 to compare notes and bring together their conversations about diversity. MaryHelen and Fred offered optional classes before dinner, respectively in food webs and the recent yard work completed.

Passing rainshowers made striking the main (in the approaching darkness) just after dinner an apt challenge for our newest crew members. After dinner folks had time to relax, nap, chat, and enjoy the scenery as we approached Boston Harbor. Another passing shower hastened everyone belowdecks for quiet ship before lights out. We anchored up in the Boston Harbor Islands off Peddocks Island by 2130. All secure for the night.

It's a weary but gratified group onboard-crew and participants alike! And tomorrow's another full day...!

Captain: Amanda Madeira
Program Coodinator: MaryHelen Gunn