Welcome Aboard The CG Barque Eagle
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26 July 2005
35 miles southwest of Lisbon, Portugal
With a change of Cadets the Eagle departs Lisbon, Portugal. ...Eagle was sailing full and by under her uppers, lowers, and course sails, plus the headsails. The sails looked truly amazing, billowed out as they were meant to be. After the final debriefing of a successful sail stations and overall first day, the new cadets were sent on their way with a gorgeous fading sunset and a greatly deserved rest. Hopefully the weather tomorrow will be as wonderful as today’s wind and sunshine.
All photos are credited: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer Second Class Andrea Rask.
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The Coast Guard Barque Eagle, homeported in New London, Conn.
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Captain's Log by 2/c Matthew H. Saldivar for Capt. E. J. Shaw
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To all who had hoped to follow Class of 2009's X-Ray Company this week, our sincerest apologies. Modification of shore side internet connections prevented us from posting these pages in a more timely manner. We hope you enjoy them, tardy as they are.
- Captain E. J. Shaw
This morning started out bright and early, with 7:30 a.m. liberty expiration from the Lisbon, Portugal, port call. At morning quarters on the waist, the crew felt a noticeable change in the mood, with 109 completely different cadets on the board, most only a month old to the Coast Guard. The waist wasn’t as packed a it was when the previous third class phases were on, allowing all to breathe a little easier.
During quarters, the new 4th class “swabs,” 2nd class cadre, visiting parents, and guests were all welcomed by our seasoned crew. After quarters, everyone turned to and the new people were all given the safety briefing for climbing up the rig and working all together. For the 4th class cadets, it was the first time putting on a climbing belt to climb aloft. For some of them, it was even the first time on a sailing vessel of any kind. Whatever their situation, everyone could feel their excitement and also some nervousness as Eagle prepared to go to sea.
After the noon meal, mighty Barque Eagle released her mooring lines from the pier and pushed off into the vast Atlantic Ocean. Throughout the first few hours of being underway, emergency drills such as man overboard, general emergency, and abandoning ship were conducted to show the new cadets what is needed during these situations. Although the swells were slight, a few unfortunate stomachs felt the brunt of the “mal de mer,” and had to put on a life vest and climbing belt to hang along the side.
After the all of the drills and trainings were conducted through the day, cadets were finally able to try their hands at line handling when sail stations were set after the food service staff’s delicious lasagna dinner. For sail stations, safety was the word. For each cadet at the front of each line, there was a crewmember to guide and walk him or her through each evolution. Everyone took time to be vigilant for safety, each step aloft was coached by a crewmember, and every line maneuver on the decks was clearly explained. It was a safe sail stations that went on without a hitch. By the time sail stations was secured, Eagle was sailing full and by under her uppers, lowers, and course sails, plus the headsails. The sails looked truly amazing, billowed out as they were meant to be. After the final debriefing of a successful sail stations and overall first day, the new cadets were sent on their way with a gorgeous fading sunset and a greatly deserved rest.
Hopefully the weather tomorrow will be as wonderful as today’s wind and sunshine.
26 July 2005 by Lt. j. g. Tahni Holmes
Eagle's second and last phase of 2008 cadets gathers one last time on the waist before arriving in Lisbon, Portugal, and departing from Eagle.
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Bliss - that is the feeling I have from climbing the shrouds this morning before sunrise. I will admit that much time has lapsed since I had last climbed, but oh my goodness does it feel good. The tough part is getting yourself out of the rack at 5 a.m.! But to begin your morning with the following:
The historical monument, Torre De Belem, greets Eagle during its transit down the Rio Tejo waterway into Lisbon.
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The moon was over my right shoulder, absent from view until my eyes paralleled the main starboard course yardarm. We had a contact off the port beam. EAGLE was heeling nicely to leeward on a starboard tack, swells splashed against her starboard beam, we slowly made way over an obsidian sea, propelled by light southerly winds, an opal-esque moon was overhead. Only eight more ascents and descents to go before I complete my "shrouds" workout and begin my day on deck . . .
25 July 2005 by Swab Keely Balthrop & Swab Jeannie Crump
Lisbon's Christ the King statue, located across the Rio Tejo waterway from Torre de Belem, is a replica of the statue over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Vice Admiral Crea, Commander of Atlantic Area, visits Eagle's cadets and crew during her tour of several Coast Guard units abroad.
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Imagine gazing at the open ocean with nothing in view except the rolling waves as you diligently stand watch at your post, guarding a square rigged sailing ship and the hundreds aboard. Many of my classmates and I have experienced this awesome feeling aboard the Eagle.
My day started at 3:15 a.m., along with my other fellow shipmates having morning duty, followed by breakfast eaten in shifts. We started out the day doing our “up and overs,” which consisted of learning how to safely climb the 147.3-foot main mast and donning our survival suits properly. It was such a feeling for all of us. After lunch we learned practice emergency drills and were instructed about safety precautions. We did an emergency egress exercise in which we had to get out of our berthing areas (sleeping quarters) in the dark as if there was a fire and smoke everywhere. Finally, we put up the sails and were sailing full and by. That put an end to almost everyone’s seasickness and made it all worth it. We all stood in awe as the sun set and we admired the results of hard labor, teamwork and training. After a day like today, the class of 2009 cannot wait to see what Eagle has in store for us for the duration of our journey.
25 July 2005 by Swab Ruby Inge
Captain Shaw puts on his full service dress white uniform to visit Vice Admiral Fonsca, commander of the surface navy fleet of Portugal.
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(L to R) Swab Nicholas Forni and Seaman James Dodd man the engine throttle and helm for special sea detail outbound from Lisbon.
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Swab Inge here reporting live from the Barque Eagle. Today was our first day out to sea. I have never been out so far that all I can see is water, not just any kind of water, but pretty blue water. It’s amazing. The crew and the class of 2009 did a great job with all the lines. We lifted almost all the sails and now we are on our way to Spain. Portugal was nice, but I’m looking forward to Spain.
Well all in all, today has been amazing except for a minor set back . . . seasickness. Like I said, it was my first day out to sea. Aside from all the nausea I knew I had to help the crew so I just got up and stuck to the third core value of the Coast Guard, devotion to duty. There were others who encountered seasickness as well but they pushed though it. God job X-Ray Company. Well Swab Inge is signing off because, firstly, I’m still a little sick and, finally, I have duty at 3:30 a.m. Sounds fun, huh? Wish us luck. Class of 2009!
25 July 2005 by Swab Andrew Bacon
Fireman Janelle Brandon makes a round throughout the engine and generator rooms on watch.
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Wow, the first day went by really fast! We left port at 1 p.m. after a quick breakfast and preparation. I was the navigation radar guy for special sea detail and got to use the radar a lot on our way out of Lisbon. After we got out into the ocean some of the swabs got seasick to some degree and it took an hour or two before the majority of effects wore off. We had dinner before evening sail stations, but it sure felt like lunch! Even the cadre were saying lunch. During sail stations the importance of
Lisbon, Portugal, with the cathedral Liceu Gil Vicente to the left, awaits Eagle cadets and crew.
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teamwork and sounding off was seen. It’s amazing what 150+ people can do. Working together lifting a 4,000-pound yard was not that big of a deal. After sail stations, it felt like it was time for dinner, but instead it was almost time to go back and get ready for tomorrow.
One of the things I really love about Eagle it how it reinforces many of the skills that are learned at the Academy during swab summer. At the Academy, even the seemingly pointless ones are emphasized. Eagle is great and I get to the do all the things that prompted me to join the Coast Guard.
25 July 2005 by Swab Benjamin Brett
Swab Keely Balthrop takes bearings with the starboard alidade while sailing outbound from Lisbon.
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I thought today was a pretty cool day. When we did the up and overs, it was fun, but a little nerve racking coming down from the platform on the mast. I like to be able to see where I am stepping. I got seasick while we were motoring out, but now that the sails are up, I am fine. This was a good day. I’m not looking forward to my watch from 4 to 8 a.m. tomorrow morning, but it won’t be bad. Setting the sails was cool and the sailing is nice. I look forward to tomorrow.
25 July 2005 by Swab Mary Morgan
The steep, narrow residential Lisbon neighbor-hoods display Portugal's pride with the nation's flag.
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Today I stared at 6 a.m., just like it would have at Chase Hall at the Academy. The difference was that I was 4,000 miles away, sleeping in America’s Tall Ship in Portugal. The rack I was sleeping in was a little tight. It’s about 3 feet by 6 feet and when I lie in it, I’m a foot away from the overhead. Everything I brought somehow fits into a 4-inch deep spare beneath the mattress. I had mess cook duty at 6:15 a.m. For this, the other 4/c and I assigned to the duty prepared and served to the rest of the crew breakfast and lunch. After breakfast, we had the school of the ship. We each went with our divisions and learned how to go aloft. The crew and cadre stressed safety as the most important thing. They explained how all the equipment worked and then we went up.
(L to R) Swab Benjamin Earling, Swab Shea Quinn and Seaman Hannah Amos steer the helm for special sea detail as Eagle transits outbound from Lisbon.
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It was pretty exciting climbing in the rigging for the first time. Even though we only went up to the course, there was a great view and I was glad to have the chance to go up. When we reached the deck on the other side, we all tried on Gumby suits, which we would wear if we had to abandon ship. All of this was interesting, but the best part of the day was when we manned sail stations.
All the divisions assigned to the main mast reported there and the petty officers explained to us what we were going to do. Then, we manned the lines that needed to be hauled and began to haul them. The line captain at the front yells “heave” and the rest work as a team to accomplish something tangible. As we hauled on the line, we could see the yardarm moving and it felt good. We rotated around the different lines based on what needed to be done, and by the end, we had half the sails on Eagle open and were making 4 ½ knots. All in all, it was great day. I have been here for only a little over a day, and I already am excited about what is to come and what I have done. It is 9:20 p.m. now, and I have watch at 4 a.m., so I’ll go slide back into my tiny space.
25 July 2005 by Swab Shea Quinn
(L to R) 2/c Tara Fuller, Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Iliada Barbosa, 2/c Ian Hanna, and Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Brian Chrest plot fixes and safely navigate Eagle outbound from Lisbon.
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Last night was a late night in Portugal. I was a little apprehensive to get underway because I have never been underway overnight before. Overall, the trip to Spain should be amazing. I started the trip on watch and then manned the helm for the trip out of Lisbon. I’m proud to say that I’ve steered a ship like the Eagle. For most of the afternoon, we were under power, and shipmates started feeling a little sick, myself included. After eating some salt crackers, I was ready to go though. Climbing aloft in the up and over drill was incredible. It was higher than I expected and wasn’t even at the top. I’m looking forward to making it all the way to the top before we arrive in Spain. When we finally dropped sail this evening, it was such a rush. I have been looking forward to making way under sail on Eagle and it finally happened, truly unbelievable. I’m hoping the weather stays as clear as it was today, but if not it would add to the experience. Hope all is well in Connecticut. Semper Paratus.
Swab Mary Morgan opens cans of crushed tomatoes for a delicious meat or vegetable lasagna dinner.
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Ensign Tesoniero acts as conning officer on the bridge for special sea detail.
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The barque sails full and by.
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Food Service Specialist 2nd Class Nicole Steele prepares bread pudding dessert while underway in the galley.
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Members of the class of 2008 man the shrouds while pulling into port in Lisbon with the Ponte 25 De Abril bridge in the background.
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Electrician's Mate 1st Class Andrey Serdyuk stands watch with the 1,000 horsepower CAT engine.
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