Welcome Aboard The CG Barque Eagle
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Click on chart for Eagle's current position
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90 miles Northeast of the Orkney Islands
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...underway off the coast of Scotland now, making circles until we return to Edinburgh to pick up a repaired main upper yardarm ...
second phase cadets learning the pin rail...
All photos are credited: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer Second Class Andrea Rask.
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June 16, 2005
The Coast Guard Barque Eagle, homeported in New London, Conn.
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Captain's Log by 1/c Morgan Roy for Capt. E. J. Shaw
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Second phase cadets have adjusted quite well to Eagle and the weather of the North Sea. Cadets flew into Scotland from all over the world. The third class cadets were sent on cutters all the way from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico and the Bearing Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Those coming from warmer climates were a bit shocked at the coolness of the North Sea this time of the year. However, the excitement of seeing friends after having been separated for five weeks, and the promises of adventure ahead in the coming five weeks were enough to overcome the clouds and scattered rain showers.
By leaving the main upper yardarm behind in Scotland, and the expectations of coming back for it in the next 10 days, second phase has no where in particular to go for about a week. The benefit of this lack of schedule means second phase cadets are getting plenty of hands-on sail training everyday. In the short time we've had underway with the new cadets, several cadets have already memorized the entire pin rail and others are not far behind. Coming to Eagle with basic knowledge of life at sea, since most have been underway or on a ship for the past five weeks, cadets can turn their focus more towards sailing evolutions. The teamwork that has already been displayed was evident by Eagle racing through the water at a swift 10.5 knots after sail stations.
Between sail stations, training, and watches, everyone is using their spare time to catch up with friends and trade their favorite seas stories. From catching drug runners to patrolling fisheries, there are certainly plenty of stories to go around. Hopefully, after five weeks on Eagle they will be sharing plenty of square-rigger sea stories as well!
15 June 2005 by 3/c Hayley Koval
1/c Jeff West explains a sailing evolution to Commander "Doc" Bostwick.
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Seaman Robert Yates explains to 3/c Ken Franklin, Jr. and the other cadets on the line when they will be hauling on the main topgallant brace.
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I have to look at my watch (which I had to retrieve from the pocket of my foul weather gear since watches are a safety hazard when heaving on lines) to figure out what day of the week it is. These past few days have had plenty of sail stations for me to go aloft and start to memorize the pin rail. This afternoon we had an unplanned sail stations to avoid an oilrig being towed to its next position and other contacts in our track line. I am in the Main 1 division, which is the first of five divisions on the mainmast. This afternoon, my division got to learn about small, four-stroke engines by taking apart a 6.5 horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine on the waist. That was fun to do and the crewmember teaching us the class did a great job explaining it’s working to us. My division also had the OPS 4 to 8 p.m. watch, during which I got to stand helm and lookout duty. The days are just packed with learning and fun times. The seas have been pretty calm, especially compared to first phase, and I think I’ve gotten used to Eagle’s perpetual movement. Well, I am off to take a sea shower and then try not to step on any of my shipmates as I clamber into my top rack. Goodnight! I look forward to the exciting, information-packed weeks ahead.
15 June 2005 by 3/c Christopher Hunt
Crew-members act as padding in order to prevent the main topmast staysail from chaffing on the ladder.
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3/c David Seaton climbs the rigging on the fore mast.
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We are underway off the coast of Scotland now, making circles until we come back into port in Edinburgh to pick up the main upper yardarm. So…how has Eagle been so far? Well, so far I have actually really enjoyed myself. It has been a lot better than I had expected. We have less duty here than on board my last cutter, plus I get to be with half of my classmates. This has been a great time to really get to know my classmates better and to form lasting relationships. It has been a lot of hard work so far, as we have multiple sail stations a day, along with training and watch. Tomorrow I will arise at 3:15 a.m. to stand watch on the bridge. I am looking forward to a beautiful sunrise.
Eagle is not perfect, however. I might be losing quite a bit of weight because the food is so strenuously rationed onboard. As a growing football player, I am coming to terms with the fact that Eagle has the largest crew (with cadets onboard) of any cutter in the fleet. But that’s just life. I am off to shower and hit the rack for another beautiful day tomorrow.
15 June 2005 by 3/c Becky Doyle
Crew hoist a 30- by 60-foot National Ensign in observance of Flag Day.
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It’s good to be underway after having been in port for four and a half weeks. I actually do enjoy being underway, mostly now because I am back with my friends.
A view from the mizzen mast of cadets going aloft on the main and fore masts.
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Today I started trying to qualify as generator watch stander. If I qualify, I’ll be able to stand watch in the engine room instead of on deck. We are not required to do this, but I am thinking of going into the field of engineering when I graduate so I figure I should check it out.
This morning at sail stations (everyone goes to their assigned mast and we haul on lines to raise, douse, of angle the sails) we did a wear. A wear is when we make a turn and the aft part of the ship goes through the wind.
Despite the fact that we are in the North Sea right now, the worst I can say about the weather is that it’s been windy and cold. It has rained a couple of times but mostly it’s just been overcast and cool. Tuesday afternoon was pretty nice; the sky cleared up for a few hours and it was warm out. I cannot wait until we get down to Portugal and it warms up a little.
15 June 2005 by 3/c Emily Paxson
3/c Evan Reger belays the main topgallant brace on the mizzen mast.
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We are all finally settling in to life on board Eagle. For the first few days, all of us were getting over the jet lag we experienced from traveling all over the United States, back to the Academy for an all-night packing frenzy, and finally to the time change when we arrived in Scotland.
Captain Shaw keeps a watchful eye on cadets aloft from the bridge.
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I think one of the best things about being on board Eagle has been catching up with all my classmates and hearing about the adventures that they have been on this summer already. I got to spend some time with a few friends from the first phase, as I arrived with the first group of cadets who traveled in the Air Force KC-10. It’s truly amazing how much we have already learned and how much more we still need to learn!
Store Keeper 2nd Class Christine Lynch fakes out the main sheet on the bridge.
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Eagle set sail on Monday after the bent yardarm was removed for repair. We went through up and overs that day as well to refresh our memory on how to safely climb the rigging. Safety has been a huge focus and I think we are all keeping a close watch on each other.
Engineering Officer Timothy Whelihan gets some help to wish his wife, Deb, a happy 19th wedding anniversary.
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Currently sailing in the North Sea, the weather has been extremely temperamental. One minute, I’ll be shivering even being bundled up in three sweatshirts and foul weather gear and the next minute the sun will just warm everything up again. I definitely wish I had bought some warmer clothes though! The sun only sets for about five hours a day, which definitely throws me off a little. Daily life has consisted of standing watches including Ops watch, watch on deck, mess cooking, and various other duties. My division has had the Ops watch twice which consists of quartermaster of the watch, helm and lookout, and combat information center, or CIC watch. I’m continuing to learn about each of these as well as understanding the difficulty in sailing a tall ship.
A view of German cadets on the Horst Wessel in 1938.
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We have already had sail stations a few times and are currently under sail, but not making much way. It’s a great feeling, though, when you are hauling around on lines with your classmates and know that collectively we make Eagle sail. I forgot how exhilarating it was to climb the rigging and go out on the yardarm to work on the sails. Just looking out into the ocean and seeing only the deep green water around for miles is all I need to remind me why I am here!
15 June 2005 by 3/c Andy Daum
Food Specialist Chief Richard Faria climbs the shrouds on the mizzen mast.
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Food Specialist 1st Class Stanley Hamman prepares potatoes for evening chow.
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We have been underway for four days now and it doesn’t seem like we have been at sea that long. We are getting considerably more sail time versus last year on phase two of swab summer from Halifax to Rockland. It is kind of weird walking through a ship that is continually tilted to one side; it takes some getting used to.
We have had considerably light seas so far compared to what I heard from first phase, so it isn’t too bad and few people have gotten sick. I have stood three watches so far, two of which have been on helm and lookout. I am working towards getting qualified helm and lookout for Eagle like I did for my last cutter. My third watch was a deck watch where we were tasked to working lines and sails for four hours. I miss my old cutter and the people on it that taught me a lot. It has taken some adjusting to get used to Eagle and a more rigid schedule. It is good to see all of my friends that went out to different cutters for the last five weeks as well and hearing some stories from them. I am still wondering why knowing what a clew line is will help me later on a cutter, but I guess it doesn’t hurt. Until then, I have to go to bed because I am pretty worn out from all the sail stations.
(L to R)Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Donovan Lanier, Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Spencer Greer, and Fireman Keely Dobbs practice small boat ops in Eagle.
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