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Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman Program
In partnership with Mass Wildlife
Friday, October 3 through Sunday, October 5, 2003

Boston Fan Pier at the Federal Court House Building
Day Two: October 4th

Weighing anchor to get underway

Beyond B.O.W.

Position Description: Anchored off North side of Peddocks Island.

Weather Conditions: Winds from the south, Force 2-3 in the lee; outside blowing Force 6-7.  we ventured out to go "sailing"... Gusting 30K, Seas 7 feet and building, green water over foredeck, seasickness increased, 20 degree leeway...  We hauled back at around 1000 hrs and were back on the hook by 1300.

A Blustery Day on the Ernestina:

Today we awoke to a blustery wind from the South and the sun rising right off our Bow.  All aboard enjoyed a delicious breakfast of strawberry puff pastry yumminess and hot coffees. Chores were taken care of with a refreshing swiftness and energy. Sophie, our fearless leader, lead us all in the particulars of the station bill and Mary Anne volunteered to demo the survival suit (Gumby suit).  At 0930 we hauled back our anchor and set the Foresail and Jumbo in anticipation of a great sail.  The forecast was for it to blow 20-25 and the wind god proved us right.  We set a course of 115 headed out into Massachusetts Bay.

Once underway all the participants exercised their personalities: building clay scenes ( People on Safari or an underwater ecosystem) and getting to know one another through human bingo.  As the wind started to build and the barometer started to drop the women immersed themselves in fascinating lessons on the weather and tides and currents.  We traveled into Mass Bay until the wind built to a force 6 and then decided to tack around and start sailing back towards Peddocks.  The ladies now all versed in the wonderful world of weather made predictions about when the front of the system would pass.

We traveled to Peddocks Island and dropped the hook at1330.  We enjoyed a wonderful lunch of pasta and marina.  The afternoon was chock full of Advance Navigation lead by Heidi and Chris, Tools of the Trade lead by Allan and Sea Shanties lead by Jack.  As the rain lead up and the wind laid down a bit it was time to dip into our mother ocean.

Alison lead the ladies in a exciting Squid Dissection, this squid served as fishing bait. The ladies dropped the lines over the side using old fashioned hand lines.  In less than five minutes we had a fish on and hauled in to reveal a Spiny dog fish.  The fish was examined for biological reasons and then released.  The ladies caught several organisms of the cartilaginous order before retiring their lines.  None of the fish caught were served at dinner, but we did have a wonderful salmon dinner. The wonderful day on the Ernestina was wrapped up with a scintillating conversation about water quality in our surrounding New England Waters.

Captain: Sophie Morse
Program Coordinator:
Alison Lafariere

 

A Spiny Dogfish comes aboard

Skates are bountiful off Peddocks Island as well

Mate Heidi Herendeen leads a navigation station

 

We would like to thank Lotus and IBM for donation of software, hardware and funding to enable regular electronic updates from the ship.

NOAA Chart is provided courtesy of Maptech using Cruising Navigator 4.3 and grabbing the image using Grabit Pro 6.02.

 
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Copyright 1997-2003
Schooner Ernestina
89 North Water Street, P.O. Box 2010, New Bedford, MA 02741-2010
phone 508.992.4900 -- fax 508.984.7719
www.ernestina.org

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