Welcome Aboard The CG Barque Eagle
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17 August 2005
300 miles southwest of Tenerife, Canary Islands
We join Eagle as 57 “OC’s,” in their 11th week of their 17-week program, arrived onboard. Eagle responds to and assist a distressed vessel.
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 OC Dan McQuate for Capt. E. J. Shaw
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On Saturday morning, Eagle bid farewell to the final set of fourth class cadets and welcomed our new shipmates, the officer candidates from class 2-05. The group of 57 “OC’s,” in their 11th week of their 17-week program, arrived onboard Eagle very eager to learn and become part of the small group who has the honor of sailing America's Tall Ship.
After the OC’s and crew of Eagle enjoyed a couple days of liberty on the island of Tenerife of the Canary Islands, Eagle kicked off Monday morning for its 19-day transit to Bermuda. After motoring for the first few hours, sail stations were set, giving the OC’s their first experience with setting sails, handling lines, and climbing aloft while underway. They met the challenge head on and did a great job for their first sail evolution.
The day proceeded as too many did this summer, with the wind not cooperating as we would hope. By 6:30 p.m., we had only traveled a few miles and set sail stations once again to make some adjustments to try to catch the wind at a better tack. After the wind played a few more tricks on us, we ended sail stations with, for the most part, the sails rigged the same as when we began. After all the evolutions, the crew was ready to relax before turning in for the evening.
Around 9 p.m., when we were roughly 35 miles from Tenerife, we spotted a red flare off our starboard bow. Although most had already hit the rack for the night, we immediately reset sail stations to stop our way and investigate the vessel. The entire crew worked together to “let go and haul” on the foremast to stop Eagle in the water. When we were unable to make contact with the vessel on VHF radio, we launched a small boat with a crew to pull alongside the distressed vessel.
Once our small boat was on scene, the distressed vessel turned out to be a migrant vessel from off the coast of West Africa. The passengers on board reported that they had somehow broken down after being underway for two months with approximately 100 passengers on board, with no remaining food or water. Eagle called for help from Tenerife and stayed on scene until additional resources arrived.
With help from the rescue vessel “Salvamar,” which arrived on scene just after 11 p.m., Eagle passed food and water to the passengers of the disabled vessel. Also on scene later was a helicopter from the Maritime Rescue Center in Santa Cruz, Tenerife. As more information was gathered and the situation stabilized, it became clearer that this was a Spanish immigration case rather than a search and rescue situation. With one Spanish rescue ship on scene and another on inbound and within radar range, Eagle handed the case over to Tenerife authorities at about 1:58 a.m. early Tuesday morning. While many on board had seen cases like this before, others were awestruck to learn of the number of the disabled vessel’s passengers. All were relieved to be able to assist the vessel, which might have met a worse fate had Eagle not been on the scene.
Reveille on Tuesday was piped at the normal 6:30 a.m., although the mess deck was emptier then normal after much of the crew had gone to bed only a few hours earlier. After morning muster, sail stations was called to set most of the sails, taking advantage of the 17-knot wind that picked up overnight while we were proceeding under power. By noon, we secured sail stations, as well as the engine, and were making more than eight knots using nothing but the power of the wind. The crew enjoyed the noon meal and the holiday routine that Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. Wisener granted afterward, allowing some extra rack time for everyone up late the previous night. While many people slept, others relaxed in the bowsprit or lay on the deck to catch some rays.
The rest of the day was calm, with even more of a break when evening sail stations was cancelled as the wind continued to blow as it did all day. Eagle sailed into the red sky that beckoned her to the southwest.
16 August 2005 by OC Dan McQuate
The final set of nearly 120 "swabs" from the Coast Guard Academy gather around the helm after spending a week onboard Eagle.
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The adventure has begun. After looking forward to sailing on the Eagle since I found out I was accepted for Officer Candidate School, I finally arrived onboard on Saturday morning, although the nine and half hour flight on a Coast Guard C-130 airplane from Groton, Conn., to the Canary Islands wasn’t exactly fun. My first impression of Eagle when I first stepped on board was that she is a beautiful ship. After the initial shock of how small my berthing area was, however, with 15 racks put into it, I told myself I won't be spending much time in their anyway so that doesn't really matter.
Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Iliada Barbosa shoots a bearing with the alidade while departing Tenerife.
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As I went through "school of the ship” on Sunday, I got to climb the lower part of one of the masts along with the rest of the OC’s.
The crew gathers on the waist with Chief Warrant Officer Ray Sisk to discuss the developing situation with a vessel Eagle believes to be in distress after sighting a red flare.
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During the initial "up and over," we climb up one side and back down the other while tied up to the pier, the safest environment we can have for climbing. After up and overs, liberty was granted so OC’s could enjoy some time in the town of Santa Cruz, which was quite an experience considering I was never out of the United States or Canada before. On Monday morning, we set off for a nearly three-week adventure to Bermuda. After setting sail stations a little later in the afternoon, we had to make several adjustments to catch the wind just right. About a half hour after the final sail stations, a lot of the OC’s were sitting on the mess deck relaxing when a pipe was made to set sail stations because a distress flare was spotted. This isn't operations normal for Eagle, so most OC's eagerly rushed to main deck to do whatever was needed. We were quickly reminded that this is what the Coast Guard does--help people that need it.
(L to R)Lt. Cmdr. Chris Reardon, Port Operations Officer of U.S. Naval Station Rota, Spain, and Officer Candidate Dan McQuate begin the climb to set the sails on the main mast.
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OCS Class 2-05 shows their teamwork skills while hauling lines to adjust the foremast braces.
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Up on the bridge, the helmsman was struggling a bit to control the helm, so I jumped in to help him as the foremast was boxed on the opposite tack of the main so Eagle could stop making way. After reducing the ship's speed, Eagle launched one of her small boats to find out the nature of the other vessel’s distress. It turned out to be about 100 immigrants on a broken down vessel without food or water. We provided the assistance we could and called for help from Canary Islands assets, which arrived on scene and took control of the situation. It was a late night for the crew, but we were rewarded today by having holiday routine following the noon meal.
Before the noon meal on Tuesday, we set most of the sails onboard. During this evolution, I volunteered to climb the mast to prepare the sails for setting. This involved climbing up the mast and out each of the yards to untie the sails from the yardarms. The lower yards weren't bad climbing out. However, more than an hour after leaving the deck of the boat we finally reached the top sail, the royal. Standing at about 130 feet above the deck, I couldn't wait to get back down.
After two days underway, my hands hurt from heaving around on the line for the sails, my head hurts from hitting it on the overhead and scrapping it a little bit, and I'm tired due to the lack of sleep last night. I don't expect that to get much better for at least the next couple days, judging from the watch schedule. The strange thing is, I'm at sea and I feel right at home . . .
16 August 2005 by OC Chris Rue
Eagles masts are "boxed" and sails are furled so Eagle can stop making way after she spots a vessel believed to be in distress.
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It has been an eventful couple of days onboard Eagle. Between many sail station evolutions, and a migrant interdiction case, I have still found some time to enjoy being on America's Tall Ship. I got to unfurl all five square sails on the foremast this morning. It was spectacular.
Eagle waits, moored in Tenerife, while Eagle's crew explores the nearby city of Santa Cruz.
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I have been spending a bit of time in the engine room, as I aspire to serve as an engineer officer in training after graduation from OCS. This has been a fantastic learning experience for me, and I hope to continue my learning when I find my way to the bridge to stand operations watches.
16 August 2005 by OC Colleen Kovach
Eagle sets all sail and heads for Bermuda.
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It has only been a few short days and I have already learned so much.
The helmsman looks on from the bridge as the crew and officer candidates prepare to set the main and fore lower topsails.
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I see now that sailing is an art rather then an action. I love art and I think I am learning to love sailing. Last night by only the light of the moon, I climbed to the topgallant to help secure the sails for a search and rescue case. The wind was whipping and it was dark. I don't believe I can compare this experience to any I have ever encountered before. I was only able to look down once as I climbed onto a port side yardarm. I have never been so high on my own. I was hanging on for dear life. I was quite an experience I will never forget. Before this cruise I had no idea what it was to sail. The experience that my shipmates and I are gaining is without parallel to any other. This has already been easily proven.
Looking out to the sunset I see that I have forgotten what it's like to be out at sea. There are no worries and time seems to be not of the essence. I don't know the day or the date. This is freedom that is only known by a sailor.
I know that seamanship, especially on the Eagle, is not something easily learned. I plan to acquire as much knowledge as I can. I want to thank the crew of the Eagle and respectfully ask for fair winds and following seas on the rest of our voyage.
16 August 2005 by OC Craig Dente
(L to R)OC's Steven Bor, Joel Salgado, Ryan Seymour, and Dominick Moreno man the lower topsail sheet during sail stations.
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One day out of the Canaries and already quite a bit of excitement. Before I tell my sea story, I would like to say hi to my favorite person in the world, my beautiful wife Stacey. Happy Anniversary! Sorry I'm so far away. I hope you got the flowers. So, on with the sea story . . .
Officer Candidate Erick Neussl makes up the fore upper brace as officer candidates Matt Doyle and Chris Rosen look on.
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We steamed out of port yesterday, and then we set sail. I've never felt what it is like to be under sail until yesterday. The weather is great for sailing. Good winds and relatively calm seas. A few OC’s weren't feeling too well yesterday, but everyone got through the first day just fine (don't worry, moms). We came across a vessel in distress last night. As we were passing another ship, they fired a red flare. We sent over a small boat and it turned out that there was a boat full of African refugees that had been disabled and adrift for more than a month, or so they reported. We sent over some water and also food. After a Spanish vessel arrived on scene to help, we turned the recovery over to Tenerife authorities. I don't know if we will ever get an accurate count of the amount of people onboard, but the estimate I've heard is 100. Not too many Coasties can brag about 100 lives saved on their first day underway, but everyone on the Eagle crew and OCS class 2-05 can say that they were a part of it. Well, that's all I have . . . Aloha.
All yards are full with crew members and cadets from the Class of 2009 while all hands harbor furl all sails during the transit into Tenerife.
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Officer Candidate Bill Suitor works on the art of driving the ship while serving as the helmsman.
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Seaman Robby Yates performs maintenance on the yard while underway in picture perfect weather and calm seas.
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A small town on the island of Tenerife sits on the base of the volcanic island as Eagle approaches Santa Cruz.
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Some of the crew take advantage of liberty in Tenerife to visit the volcano, Pico del Teide, which most recently erupted about 200 years ago.
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Cadets from the Naval, Air Force, and U.S. Military Academy pose in front of the helm prior to departing after serving onboard Eagle as part of the service academies' exchange program.
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(L to R)Officer Candidate Phil Nail receives coaching from Seaman Holly Cordero as he makes up the line after hoisting the upper topsail on the main mast.
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Seaman Clay Wilbanks checks the ship's heading while Third Class Sea Cadet Evan Vernon looks on and Officer Candidate Wes Geyer mans the helm.
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Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Spencer Greer stands by to give commands while serving as the break-in conning officer during sailing stations.
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Guest Maggie Flanagan makes the climb to the main mast tops platform as the crew and OC's prepare to set the main and fore lower topsails.
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