After two weeks sailing around the foggy waters of the Maine Coast, the schooner Roseway and 21 Proctor students, including Andover’s Katie Bent ‘21, aboard the school’s Ocean Classroom program are making their way along the eastern seaboard. For the 27th year, Proctor’s Ocean Classroom program transforms high school students into sailors who will eventually crew the 135’ historic tall ship to its final destination of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Each day, one of Proctor’s students reflects on the happenings at sea in the Ship’s Log. Below, enjoy a few entries from the first half of the voyage.
September 29, near Rockland, Maine — Cameron Robie ‘21
I sit in the salon, recounting the events of today while being serenaded by McKensie and Katie. As they improvise a ukulele ballad about each member of the Roseway crew, laughter fills the air, and I find myself happily present and distracted.
Today raced by in a foggy, slow sailing way. We kicked off the day with chores and a beautifully delicious breakfast of nachos and beans. We then set the sails, raised the anchor, and glided through the dizzying fog.
Forward lookout suddenly became a game: “Is that a boat or am I just seeing things?” or “How far can I see?” Science class then consisted of submerging faces into ice-cold buckets of sea water and discovering if we could, in fact, turn into whales or dolphins.
This was then followed by a brief history lesson where we strategized and then went to war with the British at Fort George. Sadly, the battle ended in the “largest naval defeat in US history, besides Pearl Harbor.”
We brushed that minor setback aside and continued with our watch cycles until we found anchorage in Rockland, Maine. Following dinner it was C watch’s turn for dinner clean-up, which gradually became a dance party filled with a variety of energetic crew members. Organizing, sweeping, and scrubbing was accompanied by belting, dancing, and laughing. It was, by far, the most entertaining cleaning session I have participated in so far.
October 5, near Gloucester, Massachusetts — Kingsley Palmer ‘21
Hello from Gloucester Harbor! Roseway has finished her island hopping through Maine, and we are now on our way south! We arrived here last night, and are anchored to receive provisions.
Despite the heavy rain we experienced last night during our watches, the sun shined through today, giving us class outside on deck. Our classes were history and literature. As a collective, we talked about our books we’ve been reading and holding discussions and debates.
Later in the afternoon, we all hung about outside in the sun. The crew got us going underway a little after lunch, while the students were busy learning knots and lines for their headrig clearances. C watch was the first to have every member checked off by a mate. A and B are close behind.
Throughout the day students also spent their free time writing letters. It was crazy writing to my friends and family, realizing that I haven’t seen them in exactly four weeks. Time is flying by, and living on a ship has called for a lot of adjustments including meal times, bed times, laundry, etc. It is becoming (if it hasn’t already) the new normal.
Students are becoming close with the crew, and our little bubbled community on board is already a little family. We have a four day non-stop journey ahead of us; I can’t wait to make it to Mystic, Connecticut!
You can read more Ship’s Log entries on the World Ocean School website at WorldOceanSchool.org/ships-log.