Welcome Aboard The CG Barque Eagle
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Click on chart for Eagle's current position
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25 miles west of the British Isles of Scilly
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The race is on! Eagle joins the other tall ships in a race from Ireland to France ...
All photos are credited: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer Second Class Andrea Rask.
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11 July 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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Amazing . . . our horizon was horizonless, with the haze lurking outside the mouth of Waterford’s River Suir. Barques, brigantines, topsail schooners, three-masted schooners, committee boats and day sailors drifting aimlessly in and out of visibility . . . waiting, waiting for wind.
The day began early for most and acted as my reminder as to how few people truly enjoy those quiet moments of morning. I would have to thank my Mother for sharing with me the inspiring hopefulness brought on by dawn, like the sun making its way above the city’s skyline piercing shadows with rays of light, defining architectural structures, glistening, reflecting its magnificence on all dew-dampened surfaces. Right on schedule, Eagle unmoored and motored our way down the river in a parade of sail. I had been fortunate to drive Eagle in a parade last year with Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas Sullivan in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and it is an attentive responsibility. This year for our outbound transit, our Operations Officer, Lt. Fleming, confidently navigated the ship and its crew out the winding river to the start of the race. There, just southeast of Ireland’s copper coast we waited until our competitors arrived, and then our competitor became not our fellow Class “A” Tall Ships, but the wind. We had calculated the wind to be blowing three knots, another ship logged the wind’s velocity to be 0--not even enough to blow down the First Little Piggy’s house made of straw. Therefore, we waited. We waited patiently in sail station posture, which had me up forward at the foremast. I enjoyed the idle time talking with crewmembers, taking in the view, and feeling the warmth of the sun for about the fifth time this summer (it has been on the colder side up in these northern latitudes and I’m a Southern California girl). After several postponements, the race committee called it a day. Our instruction was to rendezvous at waypoint 1 around 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Although the wind was out of the NE at 033T with a velocity of 11kts when I assumed the watch this morning, Sunday, at 7:25 a.m., it was enough for the race committee to give us a go. At 9 a.m., we received a radio transmission verifying our start line and race time to be as previously scheduled. The race was on, and so our plan and preparation began. I was relieved of watch to assume safety on the foremast and took post to the same. Our surrounding’s transformation was beautiful to watch: what was once a horizontal spectra of ascending masts vertically dividing the sky like a picket fence, now became an enveloped body of white planes moving ghost-like as each ship set sail. To imagine the sounds of all those sails, un-gasketed, falling from their gear . . . the music made, the way canvas becomes carried away by wind. Upon securing the engine, that sounding silence, that first whisper of wind in sail, bow parting sea, at that moment’s understanding, to be under sail--those are the sounds heard by a sailor. Those are the sounds I long for at sea, and for that wind-felt memory alone . . . today was a magnificent day to be aboard the Barque!
10 July 2005 by 3/c Beth Stevick
The little or no wind leaves a beautiful site of sailing ships and calm water surrounding Eagle.
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The race is on! I was standing on the bridge while we prepared to cross the starting line. There were so many sailing ships and I even saw a three-masted ship with forest green sails . . . it was pretty sweet. Today has to have been one of the most perfect days, except that there is no wind. Last night, the water was like glass and the stars were out. So, in honor of the wonderful weather, we watched Sahara on the waist with yummy popcorn and friends all around. It was so nice to be so relaxed, and calm. Today has just been another Sunday, with Catholic mass in the flag cabin, and Protestant service on the fantail. And then . . . we had three hours of hauling on lines for the race. Somehow, we managed not to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time for the start. It took us more than an hour to get back on the right course. For the rest of the day, music and lounging took place on the waist. Oh yeah, there were also those strange people who worked out and made the rest of us feel completely lazy. Or, if you were like me, standing mess cook duty, it was time to help out the food specialist staff and peel some shrimp.
10 July 2005 by 3/c Lindsay Putnam and 3/c Amanda Hood
Even with the increased amount of sail stations, cadets such as 3/c Hayley Koval still find time to lounge on the waist.
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We woke up at ten this morning, for the first time taking advantage of the alleged Sunday holiday routine (for which we’ve both been on duty every week thus far). We enjoyed divine services with several other shipmates on board before catching a hurried breakfast before anticipated sail stations at 11:30 a.m. We split up to our respective masts, resulting in Eagle’s coming to life on a sleepy Sunday, under full sail--three hours later. The other tall ships in one conglomeration on the horizon were quite picturesque yesterday evening and today. We were unintentionally looking beautiful two miles behind at the start. Fortunately, we used much of the day to catch up to the fleet, and are now underway making way towards the lead and Cherbourg, France. It’s been a pleasant day spent primarily lazing about in the sun, watching movies on the mess deck or reading Cosmo in the berthing areas. Surely, the day will reveal more surprises, hopefully a stronger wind and shorter sail stations, as we continue on the path to our next doubtlessly wonderful port.
10 July 2005 by 3/c Erin Milici
Heath Services Technician 1st Class Tyrone Anderson tends a staysail sheet during sail stations.
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Here it goes! The race from Ireland to France that is. We have spent the past few days at the tall ships festival in Ireland. The sight coming into Ireland through the river was absolutely beautiful. There was green everywhere, with herds of cattle on the hills, which dropped straight down to the waters edge. The sun was shining and the docks were busy with people welcoming us and all the other ships. The festival was incredibly crowded with people from all over the country and the world. I saw a parade of crewmembers from multiple countries and enjoyed walking around the city. I took a tour of an 800-year-old, still operating lighthouse. From the top I could see a clear distinction of where the river met the sea. Yesterday we pulled out, but the race didn’t start until today due to the lack of wind. The weather has been beautiful, but the race has been off to a slow start as it was delayed multiple times. Sunday mornings have been great as divine services have been held every week. This morning I went to church in the flag cabin and then grabbed a quick bite to eat before we had a three-hour sail station at the beginning of the race. The rest of the day has been mostly a Sunday holiday routine and I have enjoyed taking a bit of time to relax. Tomorrow is likely to be busy as the race goes on.
10 July 2005 by 3/c Lisa DePace
The cadets and crew of Eagle work the sails during the race.
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Today we started the race but with a few difficulties. Apparently when we saw all the other ships at one line and us in a completely different location we were right and everyone else was wrong. I guess we just wanted everyone else to notice us, which they sure did as we started later than any other ships. But as Captain Shaw said--it's not who starts first, it's who finishes first! Judging by the lack of wind, it may be hard. After the never-ending sail stations this morning, they gave us the afternoon off.
And it turned out to be a great afternoon because we saw sea turtles off our stern. It was so cool. So far this phase we have seen whales, porpoises, seals, and now sea turtles. It makes for a great viewing off the waist. In addition to the great sea life, the sun is shining and we are sailing!
10 July 2005 by 3/c Victoria Stevens
Electrician's Mate 3rd Class William Keen watches sail maneuvers from the tops, a platform about 30 feet up the mast.
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Looking up at the cascading stars blanketing the sky at 1:30 a.m. while doing an engine room round was one of the highlights of my Eagle experience. Where else in the world can a person find himself or herself doing what they love while in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on a 69-year-old barque. The very same barque that I saw people drooling over to get on and get one glimpse of her helm or just touch one of her lines the previous day. Very few people can say such a thing.
Sunday started out as a very productive day. I stood the mid watch with my division mate, 3/c Sarah Southard. We learned how to pump sewage and how to properly execute a generator watch stander round above and below decks. I live to be in the engine room. There is something exhilarating about being near the ship’s source of power (or, in Eagle’s case, the “auxiliary" ower), being able to fix something if a casualty happens, and doing so with my bare hands.
A close-up view of a square sail. Rings are sewn into the sail and attached to the spectacle iron, a metal ring connected to a cable.
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After watch I went to CIC to do a star fix. 1/c Dahl’s and 1/c Wolstenholm’s divisions, and I all took fixes of stars using sextants to create a 100-point star fix. We found our position using the star fix within five nautical miles. Amazing to think that a person can find where they are at using stars.
Linden Dahlkemper and her classmates scale the rigging to furl sails.
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Divine services were held in the Captain’s cabin at 10 a.m. for Catholics and on the fantail for Protestants. It is always a nice time to see people on the ship exercising something other than their line handling skills.
We began sail stations at 11:30 a.m. for the start of the sail race. Little did we know that we would be at sail stations for three hours. We braced about three times and set almost all sail. Everyone was confused as to why it took so long to cross the start line, but Captain Shaw piped his praise to a job well done and we went on our holiday routine day. (Holiday routine equals no workday for most).
The sails are now full of what little wind we have at the moment and we are very slowly making our way to Cherbourg with the rest of the tall ships in the race.
Envision a horizon filled with classic ships of the century, all making their way to the same destination like a pod of whales migrating to their next location with Eagle being an integral part of the pod.
10 July 2005 by 3/c Dan Cloonan
The different ships are all trying their own sailing tactics in attempt to win the race.
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A backbreaking holiday routine started the first leg of the tall ship race to Cherbourg, France. It was an unbelievable sight to view ships from around the world in port and watch them compete this morning. Eagle got off to a late start, however, we are inching our way towards the front blessed with the tremendous three-knot winds. It’s hard to believe, but yesterday marked the one-month anniversary since the third class reported to Eagle. I never thought that this summer alone would take me to so many different countries and give me the experience of a lifetime. Sometimes, one might question their decision due to the more mundane tasks required throughout the day; however, one’s spirits are immediately uplifted by the beauty of the sea. Calling my family in port and speaking to my 12-year-old sister enabled me to appreciate the wonderful gifts that have been bestowed upon us to give us a reason to perform to the highest standards. Being out at sea is far from the real world. Very rarely in any other job or service do you have the time or money to sit back and enjoy the view. It’s definitely a treat to spend time with friends, meet new people, and enjoy the warm weather. This race definitely gives us a purpose for our actions as we finish off our voyage. I wish the swabs the best of luck in finishing out the summer and would like to say hello to my family.
Tiny small ships in the distance make it easy to forget that many of the ships are equal or larger than Eagle in size.
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The race has put Eagle in some close-quarters situations.
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The tall ships parade out of the mouth of the river exiting Waterford. Many ships had already set their sails and were ready to race.
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The officers of Eagle pose on the helm for an action shot.
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The rays of the sun are sometimes referred to as the "backstays of the sun" by sailors.
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The tall ships parade out of the mouth of the river exiting Waterford. Many ships had already set their sails and were ready to race.
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