Fred's Place - The Place To Meet Old Coast Guard Shipmates

Welcome Aboard The CG Barque Eagle
June 14, 2005 55 miles east of Saint Andrews, Scotland First phase of this summer's cruise is completed, second phase reports aboard. Classroom sail training starts tomorrow... All photos are credited: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer Second Class Andrea Rask.	The Coast Guard Barque Eagle, homeported in New London, Conn.

Captain's Log by 1/c Eric Majeska for Capt. E. J. Shaw

The Scotland port call and first cadet phase of the summer tour have already come to an end. Cadets from the first phase departed successfully, with the second phase of cadets arriving just hours after. Some of the second phase cadets had a short delay in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the way, but were able to get out an look around on liberty there anyway.

Late nights in Halifax and a five-hour time change didn’t stop the jet-lagged cadets from jumping at the chance to see Scotland when they finally arrived. Many cadets, coming directly from their first phase cutters, wanted to take advantage of their precious time on land before the transit to Portsmouth. The most popular attraction was the Edinburgh Castle, which was at the end of a beautiful walk through the city’s streets and parks.

Many cadets returned to the ship wearing a wide variety of Scottish garb, from shirts to kilts, as they took this one last chance to go out and buy the souvenirs and gifts they promised their parents and friends back home. Of course, they also didn’t pass up the chance to wear the kilts out on the town in Scotland for one more night of exploration.

The first cadet phase was an absolute success for crew, cadre, and officers of Eagle. First phase left second phase with some big boondockers to fill, but we know the new group of cadets is up to the challenge Eagle will bring them.

Shortly before leaving Edinburgh, the deck department and local contractors worked aloft and from cranes to carefully remove Eagle's bent main upper yardarm. In about three hours, the yard was removed from its lifts and was brought down to the deck of the pier, where it will be repaired over the course of the next week. Eagle's current plan is to return in a week to 10 days to pick up our yard, then continuing on to Portsmouth, England, for the Trafalgar 200 celebration and International Festival of the Sea.

Second phase is underway and there is plenty in store for the new cadets to learn. Classroom sail training starts tomorrow to establish a foundation upon which cadets will build their sailing knowledge. With 16 days of sailing set aside to get from Edinburgh to Portsmouth, a trip that could be done in four days, the cadets are left with plenty of time for training. Exciting times that will foster growth, team building, and personal change lie on the horizon.

13 June 2005 by 3/c Lina Anderson

An authentic Scottish bagpiper at Edinburgh Castle.

After two days of travel, including an overnight stay in Halifax due to our HC-130J Hercules's engine problems, we finally made it to Edinburgh. It was a long, uncomfortable flight. I didn’t get to see much of Edinburgh because the only day we were there I had to mess cook. But that night I did get to walk around the town and see the castle at Edinburgh. Maybe when we come back to pick up the yardarm later, I will get to go inside and see it. I am excited for all of the other port calls, too. There is so much to see and look forward to. In the other ports, I will have a lot more time to walk around which is also exciting.

13 June 2005 by 3/c Amanda Hood

Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Edward Hubbard teaches 3/c Seaton how to properly belay a line.

The six 3/c cadets who were assigned to ride the brand new HC-130J received an unexpected port call in a country that definitely didn’t belong to the European Union. While riding the C-130, in seats consisting of cargo netting and very little elbowroom, one of the engines went out. No one knew until we heard the announcement that one engine was down and that we’d be landing in Halifax. We ended up waiting for an hour at the airport in Halifax. I called my Dad, who is a navigator on the C-130 in the Air Force, and we commiserated about the woes of C-130’s breaking and stranding their passengers in random places. After deciding that there was no way that we would leave that night, we retired to a hotel about a $20 cab ride from downtown Halifax. We had liberty all day and night until 3 a.m. the next day.

The crew of Eagle 1, Eagle's small boat, recovers a MOM 9 (man overboard module) during a drill in the North Sea.

Finally at 8 p.m. the next night, we departed for Scotland, enjoying a seven-hour flight, praying that the A/C would keep working. We were greeted by our classmates who were leaving Eagle for their next adventure on their cutters. We exchanged smiles and advice on our respective future jobs. When we reached Eagle, everyone except the unfortunate few whose last name is at the beginning of the alphabet, left to explore Edinburgh. The 2.30 Pounds bought us a round-trip ticket and got many of us downtown on the bus where Edinburgh Castle won the appreciation of all those who saw it. After returning, before our 12 a.m. curfew expired, we made ready for getting underway the next day.

13 June 2005 by 3/c Lisa DePace

Seaman Aaron Brown and 1/c Jake London act as line captains in foremast sail stations operations.

It was so awesome to finally arrive at Eagle. The journey took awhile, but the C-130 got here on the second try. It was definitely worth it because we are in Scotland--a realization that was hard to wrap our minds around. It is so green and beautiful here, a nice sight after the plane rides. Except for the people on watch, most of us got a chance to see

(L to R) Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Whelihan relieves Chief Warrant Officer William Pitkin as Eagle's engineering officer.

Edinburgh for at least a day. My personal highlight was seeing Edinburgh Castle. It was gorgeous and filled with history. Another definite highlight were the Scottish accents. It was fun just to listen to local conversation. It never occurred to me that they would think our accents were cool, too, until a little Scottish boy was amazed at listening to us talk.

Monday morning was busy. We had school of the ship and the main upper yardarm was removed. School of the ship was good because it got us aback in the Eagle mindset. Taking down the yardarm puts as half-time break into our underway period to Portsmouth, England because we have to return back to Scotland to get it back.

We got underway at 5 p.m., after completing the up and overs. My special sea detail was mess cook, so I was below decks during Eagle's maneuvering through the lock and setting out.

Later, we had safety drills to make sure we knew what to do in case of an emergency. Continuing on, we had sail stations. It was really busy first day, but we are now underway and sailing. I am ready for tomorrow’s challenges!

13 June 2005 by 3/c Jenny Fields

Captain Shaw discusses Eagle's operations with Admiral Whitehead

So we finally made it! Those of us on the “experimental” (Ed. note: the "J" model of the C-130 is the latest iteration of this venerable aircraft.) had quite the adventure trying to get to Scotland after an “precautionary landing” in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and had a 24-hour layover while they replaced the no. 3 generator. After taking off later in the evening and a seven-hour flight, we arrived in Edinburgh around 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The time changes (anywhere from five to 10 hours, depending on first phase cutters) coupled with not being able to sleep very much on the “climate controlled” aircraft, left us pretty exhausted. Once we got off the plane and into the buses, people started to perk up and take in our new surroundings.

As we got closer to the harbor, the fore and main masts came into view, strung with parade flags, towering over the three-story shopping mall across the street from the pier.

Food Specialist 3rd Class Billy Lieb, along with several cadets and crew, receives a Letter of Commendation for helping to provide emergency medical care for injured shipmates.

Once we got aboard and packed in, we got liberty around noon. Everyone not on duty scattered to go see the city. After spending five weeks on a cutter with maybe two or three classmates, it was awesome to be reunited with at least one-half of the class and swap stories about our summer experiences thus far.

Crew teach the new phase of 3/c cadets how to climb aloft and set the main lower sail during sail stations.

Edinburgh was an awesome city. Most of us rode the bus into the center and walked through the metropolis that grew up and around cobblestone streets, statues, cathedrals, medieval castles, and royal gardens. Even the on and off rain showers did not stop us from staying out all day and exploring the city.

This morning, two cranes came to pick up the main’s upper yardarm to have it repaired here and, if all goes well, we will be back in a week to pick it up. After going through school of the ship and completing “up and overs” we ate chow and got ready to get underway. Waving to onlookers standing on the mall’s balcony, tugs pulled us into the lock and 20 minutes later we were released in the Firth of Forth. We were pretty surprised at how much we remembered from just the week we spent aboard as swabs nearly a year ago.

We are all pretty anxious about what this deployment will bring, but hopefully if all goes well we will have a few adventures and a great European experience… plus some cool pictures of really old stuff…

13 June 2005 by 3/c Cullen Taplin

A crane removes the main upper yardarm in Edinburgh in order to repair the damage it sustained during first phase

Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Karl Messner re-enlists on Eagle's waist.

We got underway today after having been in Scotland since Saturday (half of us). The flight over in the KC-10 was not bad, but those on the C-130 had a rough time. Scotland was great; lots of historic sites, friendly town, and plenty of entertainment! I was able to check out the Edinburgh Castle, which was amazing! The locals were so nice. Of course it is obvious we were foreigners, and the foreigners were so curious. No matter where you were, at a restaurant or a gift shop, people would welcome you in and ask all about you and help you around town. It was pretty neat seeing all the street performers. I cannot even remember how many bagpipers and other musicians we passed! Everyone really seemed to enjoy the city.

Other than that, the only big news is that they took the bent yardarm off today. Two cranes came in and spent about three hours taking it off. They told us it will take about a week to fix and we are coming back for it in 10 or so days.

13 June 2005 by 3/c David Zukowski

Eagle approaches Scotland's coast.

At last the change of phase evolution is complete and EAGLE is ready to get underway with her new complement of third class cadets. The change of phase was a monstrous task for the administrative crewmembers in EAGLE and back at the Academy, who rose to the occasion, coordinating travel arrangements for some 270 plus cadets scattered across the globe.

Lt. "Doc" Stehn climbs to the very top of the mainmast to untangle the Admiral's pennant.

The cadets arrived in two groups, one flying on an air force KC-10 and the other on a Coast Guard C-130. The cadets on the C-130 had the pleasure of flying on an aircraft that is not yet mission-operational. It might be a while longer before the C-130 joins the fleet as it broke down during the trans-Atlantic flight, forcing half of the phase two third class to miss a day of liberty in Scotland. However, they were able to relive memories of their EAGLE past by landing and spending the night in Halifax, one of the port calls from the swab summer cruise.

Cadet hands are ready to haul on the main lower topsail sheet.

Those cadets traveling on the KC-10 had their share of waiting around to do as well. Arriving at McGuire Air Force Base eight hours before their flight, the cadets had nothing to do but shop at the exchange, which turned out to be a shopping mall compared to the exchange at the Academy.

Now with Scotland in their heads, the cadets have the adventure of being underway to look forward to, although some are looking forward to it more than others, nonetheless, second phase has begun. Let the adventure begin again.