Welcome Aboard The CG Barque Eagle
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Click on chart for Eagle's current position
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190 miles from the English Channel
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Having returned to Edinburgh Scotland and installing the repaired main upper top yard, Eagle
once again sets sail bound for Portsmout, England. As one Cadet puts it, "And our continuous quest for peanut butter never ends... "
Ed Note: It's good to know nothing has changed since "my days, back in the old Guard". :)
All photos are credited: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer Second Class Andrea Rask.
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24 June 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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Underway again in the North Sea…it just seems like a regular experience for the crew and cadets who have been underway now for several weeks sailing around the European continent. However, each day brings new and rewarding experiences. For example, as Eagle prepared to enter the lock into the Edinburgh Harbor for the second time in just over a week, any bridge observer could clearly see the amount of planning, teamwork, and concentration it takes to safely operate this 295-foot barque. Trainers and trainees filled the bridge wings taking bearings to charted objects, while those on the flying bridge kept an overall view of the ship and its surroundings, the helm, and all on the decks preparing to heave around on mooring lines.
Each time Eagle enters or exits a port, it is another opportunity to let first class cadets drive the ship, crew to train cadets on what exactly their job entails (i.e. the navigation team working together to record visual bearings, plot them, and then make recommendations to the conning officer on where the ship should be headed), and the opportunity for Eagle to perform its primary mission of training.
The purpose of Eagle’s brief stop in Edinburgh was to re-install the main upper top yardarm. A week earlier, it was removed to undergo repairs to a bend it sustained during the first week of the summer cruise. The deck force worked all day long to install this yardarm safely and correctly. Their hard work paid off when the test setting and dousing of the upper topsail was a complete success. The crew and cadets appreciated and admired the deck force’s tireless effort to get Eagle fully operational again. They were joined by an admiring crowd of Scottish well-wishers who enjoyed a vantage from the second deck food court balcony of the waterside shopping mall where EAGLE moored. The observers got a special luncheon treat as they watched the yards being braced and tested. None could miss the cadet mast captain's shouts of "On the main! Sheet home!" as they reverberated across the deck in the relay of commands by other cadets and crew.
The weather in the North Sea is currently calm and warm. For the first time this summer, short sleeve shirts are becoming a regular uniform item for heartier souls, as opposed to bulky sweatshirts and fleeces. Eagle is headed south to Portsmouth, England for the re-enactment of the Battle for Trafalgar during the International Fleet Review and the International Festival of the Sea. Although we'd like to set full sail, which we haven't been able to do for weeks, light winds and a timely arrival dictate that Eagle will have to motor quickly down to Portsmouth in order to arrive on time to anchor. We're hoping to get south of Portsmouth before our anchor time and set sail with any extra time remaining. Either way, the next few days will be focused on preparing the ship and its crew for the tactical maneuvers it will face when sailing close aboard to 36 other Class "A" tall ships.
23 June 2005 by 3/c Lisa Myatt
Auxilarist Richard Asaro, a retired Coast Guard Captain and frequent summer crew member aboard Eagle, teaches cadets about the Battle of Trafalgar.
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(L to R) 3/c Ruairi White and 3/c Ashley Grunder hold a bumper over the bumpkin during Eagle's tight squeeze in the Edinburgh locks.
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Today, Eagle found herself once again pulling away from the Ocean Terminal pier in Edinburgh. The return trip to Scotland proved to be successful as the crew reattached the main upper yardarm yesterday. We also picked up four of our classmates after their adventurous multi-million-dollar drug bust on board their previous cutter. Despite a number of schedule changes, for numerous reasons, Eagle remains on course, motoring towards Portsmouth. We are anchoring on Sunday, along with hundreds of other ships for an International Fleet Review before the Queen of England.
After yet another night of liberty in Scotland, both cadets and crew prepared to get underway bright and early this morning. We made it through the lock in good time and I once again found myself cruising along in America’s tall ship. I had the noon to 4 p.m. watch this afternoon, alternating between helm and lookout. While steering, I learned about steering full and by (which I still do not understand completely, but I am learning). Then, while on lookout, 3/c Steph Plummer and I simulated reporting air contacts by reporting fluffy, white clouds with aspect, position angle and bearing drift. Tomorrow we hope to set full sail, something Eagle has been unable to do recently.
23 June 2005 by 3/c Tara Schendorf
The navigation table on the bridge is always in a flurry of action and covered with navigators' instruments, including compasses, bearing books, and rolling Weems.
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Another day has come and gone since we arrived on the Eagle. We are now underway again after having fixed the broken yardarm. But we did get to spend a couple of extra days in Scotland. Yesterday we had a fun-filled Sports Day in Victoria Park, which was a couple of fields and a play set. Some people played sports while a lot of us enjoyed the slides and the monkey bars. It was fun to act like a little kid, but their equipment was a lot different from ours at home. And we definitely were very noticeable. One girl came up to us and told us that this was her first time seeing grownups play there. We ended up spending about four extra hours there since the repairs took longer than expected. We also got libo again since the lock schedule meant we couldn’t leave until this morning. So the extra time was nice. Now that we’re back underway, everyone’s getting ready to take the pin rail exam. A couple more days and we’ll be anchored in England, but until then, training and watches continue. And our continuous quest for peanut butter never ends...
23 June 2005 by 3/c Ian Foster
Eagle's very own teak deck got a taste of the Scottish bagpipe when a member of the team that repaired Eagle's upper yard played for all on board prior to Eagle's departure from Edinburgh.
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Today was another nice day here in the North Sea. So far it really hasn’t lived up to its reputation for wind and high seas but I’m not complaining. Getting extra liberty in Edinburgh was nice, as we got to see more of the sites than expected. Plus, the opportunity to eat well is always appreciated.
Although empty during the day, the crew's lounge is packed in the evenings with crew members who want to check e-mail, watch a movie, read a book, or just relax after a long Eagle day.
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I know that we are all anticipating our stay in England, as it promises another chance to experience life in a new country. It will be interesting to be part of such a large gathering of tall ships and rumor has it that Eagle is one of the festival's largest attractions.
Many of us are finding it difficult to transition back into a more Academy-like environment after our experiences during our first five weeks. That seems normal, and I am confident that we’ll all be leaving with some very positive experiences.
We’re back in our underway watch rotation and my division will be standing 8 p.m. to midnight which isn’t really a bad thing to me because that means mid-rats!
23 June 2005 by 3/c Kyle Cuttie
1/c Gregory Dahl makes a pipe from the bridge to all hands during a damage control drill.
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Today we left Scotland after retrieving the yardarm, which we had left in Edinburgh to be repaired after the first visit. The unexpected trip back was nice as it seemed like another port call. We got liberty Tuesday and Wednesday nights. I took the time to walk around the city and explore with some buddies. As we were exploring the city we found ourselves in a graveyard where we found the grave of a confederate soldier who died in 1865 and was buried in Edinburgh at what looked like his family plot. It just seemed ironic for a couple of southerners randomly in Scotland to find that.
Seaman James Dodd cleans the male crew berthing area with his shipmates during field day.
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As for today, my division and I spent the better part of it cleaning up a gray water leak from the sail locker. For those who don’t know, gray water is the water that goes down the sink and shower drains. The water line somehow leaked and got water all over an assortment of lines and sails.
Today marks one month until we get to go home and in five days all of us will have been in the Coast Guard for one year. As of now we are motoring against the wind, which means no sail stations. Up on deck right now people are reading and working out, enjoying the nice weather while the restricted cadets are shining brass and killing work hours. It feels good to finally be underway with a given destination. Everyone is looking forward to hitting another port and getting a chance to get off the Barque for a while. It has been a long 360 days.
Chief Boatswain's Mate Jerald O'Brien orchestrates the furling of the fore course square sail.
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Machinery Technician 3rd Class Matthew McCoy ties the last gasket around the furled fore topgallant square sail.
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Eagle II (one of Eagle's two small boats) and crew members inside are hoisted after a man overboard drill.
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(L to R) 3/c Evan Burner and 3/c David Lee keep an eye on "Oscar," used in the man overboard drill.
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(L to R) 3/c Sarah Southard and 3/c Kyle Highfield help give Eagle's in-port awning a bath in a boat full of detergent.
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(L to R) Lt. j.g. Chris O'Neil, Damage Controlman 1st Class William Workman, and Machinery Technician 1st class Brian Hennessy investigate a malfunctioning discharge valve on a P-100 pump.
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(L to R) Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Donovan Lanier and Seaman Jeremy Underwood put the final touches on the main upper yard before it is put into place.
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