Welcome Aboard The CG Barque Eagle
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Click on chart for Eagle's current position
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30 miles east of Madeira on Coast Guard Day
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We join Eagle Sailing 150 miles off the coast of Madeira, on the U.S. Coast Guard's birthday
All photos are credited: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer Second Class Andrea Rask.
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04 August 2005
The Coast Guard Barque Eagle, homeported in New London, Conn.
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Captain's Log by 2/c Kelly Haupt for Capt. E. J. Shaw
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Sailing 150 miles off the coast of Madeira, on the U.S. Coast Guard's birthday, Eagle is spreading her wings through the high seas of the Atlantic. Winds have picked up to 20 knots, letting Eagle set her sails and head for her tropical paradise destination. It seems the first time in a long time that Eagle has actually been able to reach her destination, even ahead of time, under sail only. Iron Wind must be jealous this week.
Along with the training that the crew is providing, all the ship’s ranks and job classifications are still attending to daily tasks to keep Eagle running both above and below decks. The ET1, Frank Buono, our electronics technician onboard, regularly undertakes numerous jobs involving preventative and corrective maintenance to Eagle’s electronics equipment. Just yesterday, he conducted some preventative maintenance on the bridge’s radar equipment and saved the ship’s primary means of navigation, called shipboard command and control suite, or SCCS, by rigging a spare computer to the system when the original failed.
The machinery technicians used this week of sailing to keep the main engine up to proper working order by conducting preventative maintenance, meanwhile they continue providing the "hotel" services of light and power, ventilation, potable water, and watching over all other mechanical equipment. Just last weekend, the engineers had to replace part of the potable water system to ensure that drinking and shower water would be working properly for the next week underway. Today will be somewhat of a sad day for the engineers, as they say “goodbye” to Machinery Technician 1st Class Tina Claflin, who will be departing Eagle in Madeira to return to school to further her Coast Guard education.
The crew has also been working around the clock to ensure safety aboard during each leg of transit. When the new swabs reported on board, the crew re-emphasized safety as a number one priority. Every day, crewmembers give basic training and introductions to shipboard safety. Yesterday, swabs underwent rescue and survival training, where they learned how to inflate the lifeboats, don the personal floatation device, and use the sound-powered phones, one of the important methods of communication throughout Eagle. From the health services technician, HS1 Tyrone Anderson, the swabs also received basic first aid training.
Each week, the crew on Eagle practices different drills to prepare for a shipboard emergency. Yesterday, the simulation of a fire was set in the 1st class petty officer lounge and a knife wound victim was "found" on the waist. All hands involved in the drill immediately went to their stations to battle the fire and treat the victim. Swabs were then given the opportunity to see the crew in action and observe how fluidly all personnel on board handle the situations.
In addition to learning about rescue and survival, the crew provides swabs with basic understanding of the safety equipment on board. Today, through round robin training, swabs went to six different stations, learning how to properly use the PKP and AFFF fire extinguishers, don the fire-fighting ensembles, and how to rig a P-100 pump in case of flooding.
With only one more full day underway, both swabs and crew are anxious to finish up the week’s work, ready to enjoy the beauty of the Madeira Islands. Outlook on board is positive. Evening showings of movies on the waist complete with snack foods provide a de-stressing activity from the full workday. For the crew, who spend more time out to sea than other Coast Guard cutters, know that next week will mark one month away from some time back at home, of which they are well deserving.
3 August 2005 by Swab Nathan Wojcik
2/c Francesca Smith passes a stopper on the port lower brace.
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Swab George Shepherd belays the fore port lower brace after hauling on the line for a sharp starboard tack during sail stations.
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Eagle has been a time I have looked forward to all swab summer. In fact, it has been one of the largest factors that helped push me through every tedious day at the Academy. Because I kept concentrated on coming onboard for one week to sail America’s Tall Ship, I created many thoughts of what Eagle would be like; some of these have been right on target yet others have been extremely far off. For instance, no matter how good an athlete or how good one thinks their balance is, none of my classmates or myself have been able to walk in a straight line while
underway. This, however, can be entertaining at times, but for the most part, it is really frustrating. It really does seem as if Eagle is far from a story book. Last night, while on watch for mids (midnight to 4 a.m.), the sky was filled with more starry stars than I had ever seen before, not to forget the one or two shooting stars I would see every ten minutes. During this watch, I spent four hours as either a lookout calling in contacts to the bridge, or at the helm, keeping Eagle on course. When we left port in Rota, I got the opportunity to be the bearing taker, and it was my job to relay coordinates that I obtained to the recorder to ensure that Eagle was at it’s proper position. This example barely emphasizes some of the incredible experiences that I get to have. So I ask: at what other school would a college student, like myself, be able to experience days like this? This has been and will be a lifetime experience.
4 August 2005 by Food Service Specialist 3rd Class Crystal Hood
A large National Ensign is hoisted above Eagle on the U.S. Coast Guard's birthday.
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Another morning
Up on deck
I glance out across the ocean
The sun has yet to break
I breathe in the fresh air
Taking in the moment for what it is
The journey has been long
Our bodies have paid the price
We fall silent in each other's company
A group of swabs from Yankee Company take a break at the end of the day on Eagle's bowsprit.
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All words have been spoken time and time again
Demands must be met
We strive as all those before us have
Our desire to succeed bonds us all
So enjoy this moment for what it is
Walk across the deck and glance up at the sails
Rest we will soon
Our journey is coming to an end
We will be among all those who came before
4 August 2005 by Swab Andrew Haley
Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Brian Chrest works on the chart corrections for approaching Madeira Island.
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Canadian Cadet Iona Madularu hauls on the port fore course brace for a sharp starboard tack during sail stations.
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Eagle has been the perfect break from the swab summer routine. It is a chance to get away from Chase Hall and experience life on the “high seas.” No bracing up or sounding off, just getting your individual job accomplished successfully. I get to work hand in hand with enlisted personnel, cadre, and officers. My one week aboard only gives a short glimpse at a life on a real Coast Guard cutter. I experience the very tight living conditions, where the berthing areas provide little to no room to change, let alone having all of us in there at one time. Additionally, every day we are required to stand a four-hour watch, which can even be during the middle of the night. Overall, it has been a phenomenal trip. I got to walk the streets of Rota, while during the week, I sail around in the Atlantic with no land in sight. Hopefully the best is yet to come in Madeira. Despite the freedoms we get at port, don’t worry Mom and Dad, I am keeping out of trouble.
3 August 2005 by 2/c Elroy Allen
(L to R) Damage Controlman 2nd Class John Bafia, Seaman Robert Yates, and Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Brian Chrest hoist the smaller National Ensign.
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Being the assistant executive officer (XXO), my job reaches to a variety of different responsibilities. I am in charge of writing and printing
2/c Thomas Weiland speaks at a Catholic service gathering, held every Wednesday.
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off the plan of the day, maintaining open communications up and down the chain of command, remaining in communication with the enlisted crew members, and all the other miscellaneous jobs the officers need to have completed. As a newly-made second class cadet, I am still learning my job as a cadre for the swabs on board. I have to remain flexible for both the swabs and officers, depending on the situation. I have to be ready to expect everything, which emphasizes the Coast Guard’s motto of Semper Paratus. Now that I am in charge and performing a leadership role, I need to make sure that the people under me are doing their job. I had no idea the amount of hours that would go into being an Eagle cadre; three days underway and I am already exhausted and waiting for the weekend. My position also does not allow me to spend as much time as I would like up on deck with the swabs. I do not get a lot of face-to-face time with them. Consequently, sometimes I can feel a little detached from the swabs. However, I am learning how to adapt to my responsibilities while also trying to get more interaction with the swabs. Besides, no matter how tough the work week becomes, I enjoy the port calls on the weekends. The culture, food, and laid back atmosphere of Europe makes all the hard work worth doing.
3 August 2005 by Swab Andrew Kauffman
Swab Lukasz Dziurzynski stands at the helm during the 8 a.m. to noon operations watch.
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(L to R) Machinery Technician 2nd Class Wesley Grogan, Fireman Ian Dahlberg, Machinery Technician 1st Class Tina Claflin, and Ensign Nicole Tesoniero spend some time down in Eagle's engine room.
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Eagle is by far the best part of swab summer, and sailing Eagle in Europe is even better! Rota was a great city with constant excitement and packed beaches. Eagle has undergone some rough seas, which helped sea sick swabbies get their sea legs quickly. Aboard Eagle, I have learned many useful tips about sailing, balance, overcoming sea sickness, and sleeping through rough waters. The round robin lessons, where we visit different stations to learn about the different parts of sails, line handling, and damage control equipment introduces us to a lot of different skills. The crew works very hard to ensure that we can easily remember. Climbing to the royal was the best part of the whole trip. The crew was amazing, and looking out into the horizon was absolutely awesome. Sailing on Eagle is one of the greatest experiences of my life.
3 August 2005 by Swab Jonathan Parkhurst
2/c Tara Fuller releases the gasket and prepares to let fall on the main topgallant sail.
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Crew and cadre climb to the topgallant to overhaul the sail so it has more room to fill, should wind increase.
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Eagle has been a great personal adventure. I reported to the Academy knowing virtually nothing about ships or sailing. I have now found my “sea legs.” and have manned the helm, been on lookout, and hauled on Eagle’s lines. And man, what a great break from Chase Hall! No need to worry about bracing up or squaring meals. It is a 24-hour-a-day classroom that allows you to be constantly learning. I have never been able to look off the sides of a ship and see nothing but water and horizon. Rota was amazing, although it was a challenge to communicate with the locals. I have learned a lot from the enlisted personnel and even more from the Eagle cadre and the officers. I am honored to be on the same vessel as Admiral Van Sice! Overall, Eagle has been a great learning experience that has taken me to places I would have never been able to go without the Academy.
Seaman Scott Fabian splices two lines together, weaving one into the other.
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Machinery Technician 1st Class Brian Hennessy teaches Yankee Company swabs how to use the ship's P-100 pump for dewatering and fire fighting.
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Swab Noel Lindsay and her classmates haul on the main brace during sail stations.
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Swab Urdley Smith acts as line captain on the main brace, which is located on the mizzen mast pinrail.
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Lt. Jennifer Bowden (far right) gathers together with Yankee Company swabs, crew, and cadre for the Wednesday night Vesper service.
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Machinery Technician 2nd Class James Gray teaches Yankee Company swabs how to use portable dewatering equipment during damage control round robin training.
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