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. 21 00 North, 152 00 West.

- Mike Baker

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

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

- Gabrielle DeHeart

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. 24 24 North, 138 40 West.

- Mike Baker

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. 25 North, 135 West.

- Christian Emsiek

‘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. 27 North, 129 West.

- Chris Woods

NEWPORT BEACH, CA – Three high school students from California and one from Kaneohe, Hawaii have been chosen by the Defense of Freedom Foundation to participate in the second annual sail training voyage aboard the 122-foot American Privateer Schooner LYNX, scheduled to sail on Tuesday, June 17, at 3:00 P.M. from the Harbor Island fuel dock, in San Diego.

The LYNX, operated by the Defense of Freedom Foundation, is an educational vessel that teaches students what it was like to serve aboard an authentic American Privateer during the War of 1812. Students live and train under conditions very similar to those encountered by sailors of the early 19th century. The students participate fully in all aspects of the educational voyage including sail training, celestial navigation, sea science studies and American history, as it pertains to America’s first defense of freedom.

“Sailing to Hawaii aboard the LYNX as working crew will be a life-altering experience for these students. At the completion of this voyage they will have gained valuable knowledge and self-assurance that only adventure, challenge and total commitment can provide. No person can bestow these benefits, they must be earned.” Capt. Rick Barbarossa, Director of Operations, Defense of Freedom Foundation.

The following students were specifically chosen for the challenging adventure awaiting them:

Michael Baker, 17, a junior from Brea Olinda High School, Brea, CA.

Christian Emsiek, 16, a freshman from Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana, CA.

Christopher Woods, 17, a junior from Red Wood High School, Larkspur, CA.

Gabrielle DeHeart, 14, home schooled through A Beka, Kaneohe, HI. (Ms. DeHeart will be flying to California from Hawaii to board the vessel for the sail home.)

Upon their arrival in the Hawaiian Islands, the students’ first landfall will be the big island of Hawaii. The ship will berth in Kawaihae on the Kona Coast and the students will disembark for four days of exploring the island. They will experience the active volcano Kilauea and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; drive to the top of 13,784′ Mauna Kea to tour the Keck Observatory there; and visit many historic sites including the City of Refuge in South Kona.

After the students complete their exploration of the Hawaiian Islands, the LYNX, a vessel of Portsmouth, New Hampshire registry, will depart for the Pacific Northwest and begin working its way back to a berth at the Sea Base in Newport Beach, California. The LYNX will arrive in early October, in time to participate in the Long Beach, Shoreline Festival.