Welcome Aboard The CG Barque Eagle
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09 August 2005
150 miles north of the Canary Islands
We join Eagle as she sails towards the Canary Islands. Quoting Swab Anais Greenley as she describes her first climb of the royal, "It was terrific and exhilarating being 130 feet up in the air with only a clip and my hands to keep me strapped in. What an adventure."
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 Kelly Haupt for Capt. E. J. Shaw
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Sailing 130 miles south of Madeira, Eagle is making way towards the beautiful Canary Islands. With sunny, warm weather and 8 knots of wind, all of Eagle’s 23 sails are set, propelling Eagle along at almost 5 knots in calm waters.
Since leaving Madeira yesterday, the crew onboard has been busy training, while cadets have been busy learning. Already, swabs have completed their first-ever climb into the rigging, completed safety training and sail training, and helped crew set every single sail.
In addition to training, crewmembers are still getting their daily work lists completed. Yesterday, Petty Officer 1st Class Andrey Serduyk, Eagle’s head electrician’s mate, replaced a circuit breaker in the engine room as part of a preventive maintenance schedule that the entire crew follows. The deck crew has their hands full with the upcoming project of greasing the rigging of Eagle’s main mast. The machinery technicians continue their hourly rounds, checking for fire, flooding, or other discrepancies in the sewage plants, forth-deck spaces, and generator and engine rooms.
The swabs have been keeping busy with sail stations, helm/lookout watch, scullery and mess cook duty, classes, and absorbing everything happening around them. The skills they are learning, along with some good sailing weather, will help steer Eagle closer to her next island destination.
9 August 2005 by JROTC Eli Levine
Coming into Madeira, Eagle meets Coast Guard Cutter Bear, also in Madeira on a port call, later exchanging honors when the two pass.
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Standing a vigilant watch, swabs guard the brow, allowing only authorized individuals to board.
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Week three for the U.S. JROTC members is progressing steadily, even though some days seem much longer than others. Despite light wind, we are moving at a rapid 3.3 knots under full sail. Despite the slow speed, all of Eagle’s sails are set, and there is nothing cooler than seeing Eagle under full sail out in the middle of the ocean. The Canary Islands are close, causing me to become more and more anxious to reach our beautiful paradise port. So far I have had a lot of fun visiting the different ports of Europe. It is an amazing adventure. Plus I am not a swab and can get more privileges. I have already become a huge fan of Spanish coffee and enjoy going to the small cafes in Europe. All in all, it has been an enjoyable odyssey to see the world by sailing on a square-rigger sailing ship.
8 August 2005 by Swab Anais Greenley
Moored in Funchal, Madeira, Eagle's beauty can even be seen from the mountain tops.
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Store Keeper 2nd Class Christine Lynch uses an Iridium phone to place an order for parts while underway.
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After six weeks of swab summer, Eagle is finally here! We had a really long flight in a cramped cargo airplane, but two days of liberty in Madeira made up for all the discomfort of flying overseas. Since I arrived, I have enjoyed so many things that I would never had done. I ate my first gelato the night I arrived, and I have also begun to learn about sailing. On Sunday, I participated for the first time in the school of the ship. During this process, I learned how to climb Eagle’s rigging, don a Gumby suit, and begin working on my line handling abilities. Today, we finally left port. Even though it was sad to leave Madeira, I am looking so forward to my time underway. I had my first underway duty from noon to 4 a.m., where I hauled on lines controlling the sails. Leaving port was quick; however, as soon as we were outside of the harbor, we saw dolphins. After dinner, I also got my first opportunity to climb to the royal, which was so much fun! It was terrific and exhilarating being 130 feet up in the air with only a clip and my hands to keep me strapped in. What an adventure.
8 August 2005 by Swab Brian Henderson
During special sea detail, Ensign Bobbie-Jean Felix helps to plot the ship's position every three minutes to ensure that Eagle does not deviate from course.
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Today we set sail from Madeira, Portugal, and are now on a course to take us to the Canary Islands. It was an absolutely beautiful day for Zulu company to get underway on Eagle for the first time. Today was especially tiring because I had to wake up early for midwatch. But, it is okay because it was simply amazing to haul up the sails, to heave on the lines, and as Captain Shaw said, “to some day have the best sea stories at the nursing home.” There was nothing in the world like watching the Eagle with engine off, sailing. We, as a company, handled ourselves very well while learning some of the nautical art of square rigger sailing. For me, the next challenge is to climb up to the royal on the main mist, which I am very nervous to do.
8 August 2005 by 2/c Jen McPhillips
Naval Academy Midshipman 2/c Kevin Ringelstein hauls on the upper halyard, raising the upper yardarm.
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Yeoman 1st Class Mark Knapp supervises 2/c Kelly Haupt while she learns how to make a stopper for the starboard fore course brace.
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As the training officer on Eagle, my responsibilities extend throughout the ship. I have the opportunity to organize all the trainings for the swabs. Therefore, I have
influence over what I feel are some of the more important pieces of information they need to learn during their one week aboard. Some of the training that I support are the rescue and survival, damage control, and sail nomenclature. It is imperative that, if the swabs are taught one thing on board, it must be safety at all times. Being the training officer for 2009 also allows me to have an open communication between crew, my classmates as cadre, and the officers. We all work together until evolution is completed, and it is rewarding to watch the swabs start to apply the proper seamanship throughout the ship. They learn extremely quickly. Throughout these past few weeks, I have learned how to be more flexible. I wanted to stick too much to my personal schedule and not bend for anything new. However, flexibility has become one of my strengths, where I have different plans and can adapt to any situation that I face. I have learned about myself and about leadership throughout these past few weeks, and I look forward to my next leadership position.
8 August 2005 by Swab Christina Mandour-Brackin
Passing a stopper on the mizzen topmast staysail halyard, 2/c Stephanie Young relieves the tension on the line so it can be belayed.
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After coaching Lt. Jennifer Bowden climbing aloft to the main tops platform, Captain Eric Shaw offers a high-five upon reaching it.
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Today is our second day underway, and all is well! Eagle is an amazing experience that you cannot imagine until you have been there. However, I’ll do my best to describe my experiences so far. First and foremost, Eagle is about learning to be a part of team, and also about being a leader. This is taught mostly through the sailing evolutions. Every person, enlisted, cadre, officers, and guests has a role. We all work together.
As a mess cook on mess cook duty, I prepared chow, served, and cleaned the dishes. I stood watches as a lookout, keeping an eye out for contacts and also for flying fish and dolphins. I also acted as a helmswoman, steering the ship as directed. In port, swabs took watches on the quarterdeck or led tours of the ship for the Portuguese people and tourists. Duty hardly feels like work! Even hauling hand-over-
On his first day aboard, Swab Daniel Halsig learns how to properly belay a line with the help of Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Edward Hubbard.
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hand on the fore royal halyard, with burning palms and straining shoulders, it is impossible to forget that you are underway. Like generations of sailors before me, I am part of a crew of square-rigger sailors. Without everyone’s help, the sails would never be raised and the ship would stay in port. Liberty in Madeira was interesting. Funchal is a tourist-oriented city, where we met a lot of visiting English citizens. Luckily, the shopkeepers all speak English to some degree, so it was entirely possible to find a beach, dine on the famous scabbard fish and buy souvenirs, without running into any major language barriers. Shocking though it may sounds, the best part of Eagle is not the liberty or the foreign countries. It is the day-to-day living and learning that takes place. There is always something interesting going on. The day
(L to R) Lt. Cmdr. David Strong, Bos'n Ray Sisk, and Lt. Aurora Fleming strategize about Eagle's course.
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starts around 6:30 a.m. with a knock on the door or a pipe on the loudspeaker, which is more pleasant than the violent banging of pots and pans back at the Academy. Then, instead of hitting the bulkhead, everyone dresses and hums up to the boat deck to stand in line for breakfast. Meals are really good and pleasant without bracing up. The day is filled with learning, early lunch, and early dinner. After dinner, if you are off duty, you have free time until evening sail stations. We can sleep, eat, and find other things to do. The waist is filled with people exercising, studying, reading. Amateur photographers man the rails, looking at the sunset and clouds. These few hours of freedom are when the idea really sinks in: I am actually sailing a square-rigger from Madeira to the Canary Islands, along the most beautiful horizon. This is truly an adventure and the most unforgettable journey I have ever had.
8 August 2005 by 2/c Kevin Ringelstein, USNA
Looking out onto the bowspirt, the horizon is filled with the beauty of the volcanic island of Madeira.
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Lt. j.g. Tahni Holmes, her brother Ray Holmes, Ensign Nicole Tesoniero, and Lt. j.g. Chris O'Neil leave Eagle's mark on the pier wall in Madeira, a tradition of visiting vessels.
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Service to each other, the ship, and the ocean flows through USCG Barque Eagle as much as the wind flows through its sails. This prevalent attribute, coupled with unwavering sacrifice from every officer, crewmember, cadet, and swab, has given so much to make our trip a safe and successful voyage. From literally putting their lives on the line properly setting the sails, to spending hours preparing and administrating briefs and lessons for the Eagle “rookies,” the experienced Eagle members continue to preserve the great legacy of square-rigger sailing.
Machinery Technician 1st Class Tina Claflin says "farewell" to her shipmates and friends during quarters on her last day, before departing for school in Connecticut.
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As an exchange midshipman from the United States Naval Academy, I feel truly honored and blessed to share with the Coast Guard this unique tradition. At first glance, the Eagle is without a doubt an intimidating ship. However, the great poise and patience of the experienced Eagle crew has
With more than 8 knots of wind available, Eagle cadets and crew lay aloft to set the fore royal sail.
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tamed this “Tall Ship” even in the hands of swabs and exchange cadets. The three-masted beast of New London cuts through the ocean with such sail power that even the dolphins ridding alongside us have trouble keeping up.
The swabs and exchange cadets have been able to control this powerful ship through the guidance of the team aboard. Participating on Eagle has given me a deep
(L to R) Sea Cadet Steele and Seaman Robert Yates review helm and lookout qualifications during operations watch.
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sense of what it means to be a part of something greater than myself. When I look out into the ocean and realize what I am doing, I think of what a unique experience I am receiving. From what I have witnessed so far, I believe the character of Coast Guard cadets is that of a unique warrior. These cadets and crew share the same code of ethics and possess a great love and appreciation for their fellow man. I have interacted with those who want to save and rescue others. This appreciation for life is revealed through their training, positive attitude, and unyielding quest to understand the sea. The Eagle, in my eyes, is a part of this quest, and I am privileged to join such an honorable service.
Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Wisener climbs aloft to drop water balloons during the morale event, Square Rigger Olympics.
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Seaman Jeremy Underwood is chosen from amongst the crew-members to receive an Admiral's coin from Rear Adm. James Van Sice for outstanding work ethic.
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