The Better Part...

They say discretion is the better part of valor. And they say a ship in port is safe but that’s not what ships are for and fortune favors the bold. They say plenty of things.

When faced with decisions like staying in port for bad weather, I tend to stay in port. Not that the Harvey Gamage is unable to care for herself or the crew doesn’t have the experience to deal with it. It is just that going to sea is already fraught with dangers unknowable and unforeseeable so as a mariner you always try to “reduce the variables.”

How to do this? Train for emergencies, avoid foul weather, keep the ship and crew ready at all times…the list is endless.

I am glad to report that our stay in Jacksonville, while maybe not the most “salty” thing to and may not be what we had anticipated for our program, has resulted in zero damage to the ship and zero damage to the students.

Last year at this time I was caught in a tropical depression that was unexpected and spent several days working hard to keep the ship and crew safe. I didn’t enjoy it.

Proctor Ocean Classroom 2012 is learning all the skills required to deal with such things; hopefully they never will have to. In fact as all of you have probably heard, a lot of what they learn here will carry over into the future. Self-confidence, being conscious of the needs of others, the value of hard work and being trust worthy...this list is endless as well.

Being prepared for foul weather and emergencies at sea is being prepared for life.

Many books and stories have been written about disasters at sea and in life. What will your students' story look like?

Fair winds, Capt. Christopher Flansburg.