 |
Education Guest Log
Sail Training Trips
School Trips
Sail Training Trips - 2003
Following are submittals by students during Lynx trip from San Diego, CA
to Hawaii, beginning June 17, 2003. Submittals from students during 2002 trips can also be seen.
- Chris Woods - 6/22/03:
'Haul away on the stay'sl haulyrd', a man says followed by the response of another
man, 'hauling away stay'sl haulyrd', and here I am with no prior sailing experience
thinking, what did he just say? I had never heard those words in my life and there I
was getting ready to go on a boat for 2 weeks where knowing on-ship vocabulary would
probably be useful. Soon I heard another command: 'That's well. Make fast the
Stay'sl haulyrd.' Then I was thinking, it's going to be a long trip. I wasn't about
to go on a boat for 2 weeks, I was going to live a whole new life for 2 weeks.
I was put to work right when I got there. First I was given the grand tour from the
Captain, then I put my stuff in my bunk and went up on deck. I was immediately being
taught where things were, how to tie certain knots, and I also got to meet the crew,
which would be my family for the next two weeks or more. The first few days were
spent getting the ship ready and I remember talking to the other students on the
trip on the last night at the dock. We were all telling each other about ourselves
and I found out everyone had an experienced background in sailing except for me, and
I definitely felt out of place. But that soon changed as I was absorbed into living
the life at sea. Everyone was really helpful and understanding and took things slow.
I felt like I had time to learn what I didn't know as opposed to coming on this
trip with all the needed prior knowledge. After all it is an educational trip so the
crew took their time to explain everything in detail to help me understand it.
The first few days were definitely rough, especially when we were underway because
we were doing all the same stuff but the boat was rocking back and forth. Everyone
also got sea sick and had trouble keeping food down, and the weather was miserable.
It was cold, wet, and the seas were rough. I was thinking to myself, what am I doing
here, and why did I do this. But after the first 3 days or so we pulled through the
foul weather and things calmed down. I was no longer sea sick because my body got
used to the motion of the boat and things were starting to lock up. I remember being
on deck looking at one of the most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen and looking
around and seeing nothing but ocean. Then I thought, I am really lucky to be here
right now and this was going to be a once in a lifetime experience.
by Chris Woods
June 22 2003
27 North, 129 West
Chris Woods - June 30, 2003:
I lay in my bunk in between dreaming and consciousness. I didn't really know whether
or not I was sleeping, but I could hear the dreaded footsteps down the main saloon
ladder of the person coming to wake me up for the 4:00am to 8:00am watch. I didn't
mind watch all that much, it was just the getting up and out of bed at 4:00 in the
morning that I wasn't too particularly excited about. But I had gotten more used to
it now then I was at the beginning of the trip.
We have been underway for thirteen days now and I was beginning to want to see
Hawaii on the horizon more and more. I have loved the trip so far. I have
learned so much, and done so much that I would probably never get a chance to
do again, and I feel privileged to have been able to do and learn those
things, but I was ready to see land. I have been to Hawaii many times before
and it wasn't anything new for me, but I feel a lot more excited about
arriving this time because it has taken a lot more work to get there. I guess
since I have been to Hawaii so much, when I get on a plane to go there its
like its no thing. But after being on a boat for two weeks and working my way
to get there, I am much more excited about our arrival, and I know that I will
definitely feel a sense of accomplishment for what I have done and I will
appreciate my time there a lot more.
Usually when I go to Hawaii I either stay in a resort or stay with family. I
do the usual activities of going to the beach pretty much everyday, or driving
to Kona to go shopping or something. But I am particularly excited this time
because it is going to be different. We are going to be able to do things you
wouldn't normally do, and learn things you wouldn't normally learn. I haven't
heard much about what exactly we are doing yet, but I heard we are going to
see the erupting Volcano, go to an observatory, and of course have some
special inner island sailing. I am also really looking forward to getting in
the water. All I have seen in the past two weeks is water surrounding us but I
haven't been able to go in it, and let me tell ya, its hard to sit on watch
under the beating afternoon sun in the middle of the pacific ocean and not
being able to go in it. Its been so hot a few times that I almost jumped
overboard.
All in all the trip has been a great experience for me and I have learned so
much, especially since this is really my first time sailing on a big boat. We
are almost there and I only have to live threw a few more early morning and
midnight wake ups, and before I know it, Hawaii will appear on the horizon.-Chris Woods
- Christian Emseik - 6/22/03:
Being at sea for prolonged periods of time allows an individuals thoughts to sail
through his mind and captivate his soul. Whether it is hanging on to wheel with
white-knuckles in the middle of a force 6 blow with waves breaking over the windward
rail and soaking the crew with its stinging bite or while gazing upon the
star-quilted heaven above us while the waves gently roll along the bottom of the
hull in a the middle of the night. The lessons learned at sea are ones that could
never be taught while on land. I have instinctively learned how the boat sails and
the rigging that controls her mighty rig, but the real lessons learned at sea are
ones that explain why we live the way we live. The one lesson i have learned while
at sea that will stick with me for the rest of my life is that too many people will
not experience life because they are afraid they will not be able to afford it, but
what they really cannot afford is to not go and experience the world around them.
Too many people are brainwashed by the constant goal of earning more and more money
and let their dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves
of patience, but before we know it, our life is over. Where, then, lies the answer?
Which shall it be: Bankruptcy of purse or Bankruptcy of life? I am only a young
man, but i do know my passion for living life to its fullest is going to keep me
from believing that money brings happiness when i know that if you live without
passion, you are not really living at all. The sea holds divine mysteries that are
shared with very few, but for those who take a step outside of realm of comfort will
be enlightened with a vast knowledge of life only found while on the high sea.
Christian Emsiek
25N x 135W
- Mike Baker - June 23, 2003:
Sailing can be a great thing but, it can even be better when you are sailing with
great people
and sailing to an awesome place like Hawaii. When I signed up for this voyage I had
many great
expectations and all of them have become a reality. Going to Hawaii has been
something I have always wanted to do but, I never suspected I would be sailing to
Hawaii. This trip thus far has been awesome. We have a great bunch of students on
board who are all awesome. The crew has been
great they are very approachable and very helpful. This sail would be dull if this
crew were not on board. I have been sailing for five years on tall ships and none
of the voyages I have been on have come close to how awesome this experience has
been. I want to thank the crew and all of the people that had made this possible
but, I especially want to thank Woodson Woods for having the vision of having such a
beautiful boat built.
On-board this vessel I have learned many new skills and refined other skills that
have needed the refinement. This boat has shown me how many captains before us
had made this passage before the advent of modern navigation methods. This voyage
has been an experience of a lifetime and there few words in my opinion can
describe it. More to come.
Posted by Mike Baker
24 24N x 138 40W
Mike Baker - June 30, 2003
Well we are almost there, our distance from the island for our noon reading was 270
NM. I had three goals coming into this trip two of them have been completed with
one more to achieve. So far this trip has been awesome the crew has been very
helpful to me in achieving these goals. Anyway enough about my goals more about the
trip. The students that were chosen to go on this trip have been awesome to sail
with. The other students have made this trip more enjoyable and setting sails with
people you don't like can get pretty ugly but, if you set sails with people you like
it is a more enjoyable experience. The food thus far has been really good,
especially the dinners which HAVE been great but, I still can't wait to get food
that doesn't move around whenever you are trying to enjoy it. This trip has been
something I have wanted to do for a long time especially on a traditional tall ship.
When is there ever an opportunity like this to sail on tall ship retracing some of
Captain Cook's footsteps. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I was one of
the lucky few who got chosen to help crew this ship. I don't think I could ever
think of something this exciting to experience and again many thanks to Woodson
Woods for having the vision and determination to construct this one of kind tall
ship. So anyways I am glad that I got to experience this one of a kind trip. Now
we have one part which is the touristy part. I end this posting.
This was written By Mike Baker
21 oo'N x 152 oo'W
- Gabrielle DeHeart - June 23, 2003:
At 1,100 nautical miles on a progressing course to Hawaii, the Lynx, its crew, and
its annual students (including me) were at our halfway point of our sea odyssey from
California to Hawai'i(my home base). Ironically, It was June 24th, my birthday, and
between witnessing harmless pranks played on the subject of another onboard birthday
just days before, getting to know the many extremely humorous yet unpredictable
characters aboard, and hearing only wacky bits and pieces of the halfway traditional
celebration, I was slightly uneasy yet exulted by the mystery of what was in store
for me. Let me begin with that morning at twelve, which was the end of my watch,
that particular night I was desperately cravings to be refreshed by Hawai'i and it's
surf again, and longing to converse and hug my mother and father. It was my birthday
I celebrated in my head, then when relieved by the next watch group I went to sleep.
The next day after our two o'clock daily discussion session, our most charactered of
all the characters, Captain Doug, excitedly ordered everyone to "dress-up" and meet
back on deck. "Dress-up" in my mind is defined as dressing in evening outing attire
such as a gown or maybe just a mere pants and top you feel is efficient for the
occasion. When I appeared on deck, I was flabbergasted by the Lynx crews' meaning of
"dress-up." For instance, Heather, the second mate was clogging around with black
platforms bearing the British flag in a total white dress except for a few
hyroglyphics bordering its edges, and a paper hula skirt banner coiled around her
body that said "Aloha." Doug, the Lynx's captain, had a bright almost yellow aloha
shirt on followed by blinding yellow capris, that you could possibly notice from a
mile away, (the rest of the halfway and birthday party attendees had just as
outrageous as these two). Heather quickly introduced me to the rest of her extreme
outfits such as a pair of black baggy pants that had scattered red lobsters bearing
it, in which I conned myself to wear to this unusual celebration. Once all of the
crew and students were present we tried with constant failure to light the my
birthday candles, I imaginarily blew them out, and we dug into the mouth watering
beautiful homemade German cake that one of the crew, Christina, had made that
afternoon (if your reading this Christina thank you, that was a dang GREAT cake.
Then little hula girl goody-bags where passed among us and I quickly opened my
presents. We listened and sang along with Led Zeplin and Queen and sun basked until
sundown, and since music is prohibited (due to safety hazards) on every day except
Saturday, I felt even more lucky and appreciated that day then on any other birthday
I've had.
HI CARRIE CAN YOU SAY HI TOO MY MOM FOR ME TOO, TELL HER I MISS HER, THANX
GABRIELLE
|
|
