Once Ernestina had conferred with the Spirit on how the races would go, it was time! Crew of both ships offered demonstrations of dory rowing for the benefit of the students, but the first teams to row—the "A" watches from each ship—STILL took neary 35 minutes to complete their rounding of the opposite ship and return "home". The subsequent watches took many more cues from this first face-off, and each completed their course—in diminishing winds, true—in about 10-12 minutes each. While the races provided great learning and teamwork opportunities for all students, and while the crews and students all enjoyed the spectacle, Ernestina was nonetheless proud to make a clear victory in the race overall. Third mate Rob Hancock, professional sports commentator ashore, offered lively and amusing commentary on the races throughout, and helped keep everyone laughing.

No rest for the weary dory crews, however—time now to haul back our 600+-pound anchor and raise the fore, jumbo, and jib for our sail out into Vineyard Sound. Once we were underway and all lines coiled down, there was time before lunch for off-watch students to enjoy a hands-on introduction to the underwater world of the sea’s planktonic creatures with MaryHelen. Students learned the Greek root of the word, planktos, meaning "drifter"—the creatures who drift on the oceans currents rather than swimming. As we crossed Lucas Shoal on our way to Menemsha Bight, we dragged our large neuston (ocean surface) net and checked out ctenophores, copepods, larval crabs, and other mysterious creatures under the ship’s microscopes.

Immediately after lunch (scallops and shrimp over pasta—yum!!), students and crew worked together to set our large otter trawl net. This net drags along the sea floor and with it we can pull up whoever lives there—in this case, we found small "decorator" or spider crabs, part of a horseshoe crab shell, many hermit crabs, kelp and various algaes, many fish under 2 inches in size (possible sea robins, scup, or ???), slipper shells, and more. At least as exciting as our haul was the rafting up of Spirit along our starboard side, and all students from both ships came onto Ernestina for checking out the critters. After everyone who wanted to had tasted the salty sea lettuce, and held snails and hermit crabs, and poked at the algaes, we released our catch and swapped tours of our respective ships.

Light winds made the call that we’d anchor tonight, each ship on its own. This way we could enjoy another swim call—only a few intrepid plungers this time!—and students could climb the rig before dinner. The sunset over Gay Head/Aquinnah was extraordinary as we enjoyed supper on deck.

Before and after dinner, there was some free time for socializing and enjoying each other’s company. As it got dark, the students received costumes and a pack of cards with various random bits ("walrus", "Grey paint", oldest passenger 104 years old) from Ernestina’s history, and they had 25 minutes to create a play from these elements. After the three entertaining and amusing performances, we passed photographs and talked about the REAL stories from the ship’s illustrious past—many of them no less outrageous!

Before lights out, there was just enough time for a bit of journal writing, creating their OWN sea stories, or just reflecting on the experience of life at sea. Anchor watch standers were treated to a gorgeous full moon and a stunning array of brilliant stars.

Program Coordinator: MaryHelen Gunn
Captain: Gregg Swanzey

The second day's run from Tarpaulin cove to Menemsha Bight with an otter trawl in Menemsha.

Dory Races start off the day in Tarpaulin Cove.

Spirit weighs anchor and departs the cove with Ernestina close behind.

Plankton aboard, getting a close look.

Here the plankton net goes over for a tow.

Everyone stands watch and takes a turn at the wheel, lookout and runs through the ship for careful boat checks as part of watch standing duties.

The otter trawl came aboard and gets sorted into tubs.

Ernestina and Spirit raft together so everyone can learn about the catch in the trawl.

Phil Smith from Menemsha and frequent hand aboard Ernestina came over for a visit and took this photo from ashore. It was great to see Phil!