This summer I took part in a student sailing trip on the schooner SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS. The trip began on August 14th and ended on the 23rd. During the trip, classes were held on various subjects, from cod fishing to a short class on navigation. A friend of mine who had been on the trip before told me that it was one of the best experiences of her life. I agree.
The first thought that hit me when I clambered aboard the ship was the size. I had made a similar voyage last October in a sailboat a third the size of the SPIRIT. I realized that this boat seemed even larger. Then my thoughts drifted to my family. I wished that my mother and sister could have been there to see me off. I wasn’t sure if I still wanted to go on this trip with all these new faces. But I didn’t have a choice now. We were leaving.
During the first few days everybody was learning the names of the lines and sails, as well as making friends. By the end on the first day I had settled in and my uneasy feelings had subsided, replaced with those of excitement and adventure. My parents’ passion for sailing has been passed on to me. I have taken sailing lessons since I was 7, and I suppose these aided me in the understanding of the way the ship works. I felt that this was going to be a good trip.
I shared the foc’sle with eight other students. It was small and damp so we spent most of our time either on deck or in the saloon, where it was warm and dry from the galley stove. Between watches we talked, played cribbage and learned our lines. We ate three meals a day, wonderfully prepared by Laura, our cook. We had three watches, each with 6-7 students and 2-3 members of the crew. We had watches around the clock, and each lasted four hours. We always had a student on bow watch and another at that helm.
During our trip we visited Gloucester, Woods Hole and Naushon Island. In Gloucester we docked in the harbor and went for a walk to the Fishermen Memorial. We also went to see the schooner ADVENTURE, which was a fishing vessel and is currently being rebuilt. Our teachers, Ben, from the Island Institute, and Laura explained the methods and history of cod fishing in the last 200 years. I was interested in the decrease of size and population over the years.
On several occasions we saw Minke and Pilot whales, along with white-sided dolphins. It was amazing having 50 dolphins leaping out of the water, with the furthest out not more than 30 yards away. The dolphins were seen on the way back home and it seemed as though they were welcoming us back to Maine. I loved this trip and recommend it to anyone interested in the sea.
Emmet Hodder is an 8th grade student at the North Haven Community School.