Trellis Bay, BVI

Yesterday saw Gamage anchored off Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, where we cleared customs and got the first passport stamps of the trip. We went ashore, played some kickball, and went snorkeling for the first time. First classes, and our first anchor watch in a foreign port...

This morning we woke before sunrise to weigh anchor and move just a mile west to the Baths, one of the most gorgeous spots in the Caribbean. Getting there early is key, as the beach fills with tourists from cruise ships by 11am. We swam, body surfed, and climbed the granite boulders that line the beach and hillside. Once back aboard, we hauled back on the windlass again and set sail for a quick downwind trip to Trellis Bay, where we are currently visiting our friends at Aragorn's Studio, where we are preparing a cook-out, having class in an enormous hammock made out of recycled fishing nets, and sailing on Gli-Gli, a traditional Carib dugout canoe, built out of a single log of Caribbean hardwood in Dominica.

Tomorrow we plan on sailing to Road Town, Tortola, where we will learn about the history and culture of the BVIs and experience its cuisine with a true master of the art, Jean of the Roti Palace. Jean is preparing a small class for us as she prepares one of Anglophone Caribbean's most enduring treats. Roti came to the region via Indian laborers in the 19th century, and has since become a staple of everyday eating, from school children lunches to fancy restaurants.

We'll then be bound further east to Nevis, and on to a new adventure...

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Day 1-Prepare to Get Underway!

The first 24 hours have been a whirlwind of activity; learning watch roles, performing safety checks, and practicing emergency drill positions and  line-handling. Our students have also been learning how to take care of the boat, their shipmates, and themselves over the course of our four month adventure, from how to wake up a shipmate for duty to cleaning soles (floors), bulkheads (walls), and heads (marine toilets).

There have been a lot of "firsts" during the past day--first anchor watch, first muster, first boat check, first meal aboard, first flag ceremony, and first wake-ups; first deckwash, first brasso duty, and first head cleaning. These are activities our students will be performing daily, even hourly, for the next four months.

We finally complete our ship's compliment today after yesterday's canceled flight, and plan to get the ship underway bound for the British Virgin Islands sometime this afternoon! All are well aboard and excited to haul Gamage's sails up--for the first, time.

 

 

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Boarding Harvey Gamage

Almost all of our student crew has arrived and moved aboard their new home for the next four months, the Harvey Gamage. They are stowing gear into their comparably small living quarters, learning new terms, and figuring out their roles in a dynamic new environment. They're quickly finding that familiar things, like stairs and kitchens, don't exist aboard Gamage, but ladders and a galley do. And they're realizing the scope of this grand adventure they've embarked upon.

The snowstorm claimed only one canceled flight, and we will retrieve that student tomorrow and get underway not too long after. 

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Arrival Day!

The Harvey Gamage and her crew have topped up fuel and water tanks, stowed gear, and made  final buy-runs for last minute provisions, educational supplies, tools, and spare parts to last the entire semester, and ALL are looking forward to the arrival of our student crew today! We're hoping the enormous blizzard along the mid-Atlantic US coast doesn't adversely affect travel plans, but if they do we're well prepared to deal with whatever comes our way...

Throughout the voyage you will be able to track the Gamage's progress over the course of her 4-month voyage with iBoat Track, also linked in the above linkbar and on the image to the left. For those long passages when we can't post updates or photos, you can track the vessel's daily progress. At the site, you can also link to have the ship's position displayed on Google Maps or MapQuest.

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Professional Crew Bios

For photos of our professional sailors, see the flickr set devoted to our trip linked both here and in the above linkbar, or in the slideshow to your right.

Captain Christopher Flansburg

Appleton, ME

Captain Flansburg holds a USCG 500 ton Oceans Master's license, and has been sailing with OCF for over a decade. This will be his second spring in a row as captain of the Discovery program, his favorite OCF trip. He has sailed professionally all over the globe, and before his sailing career he was paid by the Army to jump out of planes. In the few months he is not at sea, Captain Flansburg can be found in his Maine cottage baking bread and out in his forge manipulating metal into gorgeous and functional pieces of art.

Alyson Graham

Education Director/Literature Teacher

Walker Valley, NY

 

Alyson began her relationship with Ocean Classroom Foundation as a college semester student aboard Harvey Gamage in 1997.  Over the past thirteen years, Alyson has remained committed to this dynamic relationship.  Her passion for sharing travel and experiential education via traditional schooners is an integral piece of the Ocean Classroom Foundation’s ability to maintain three operational vessels year round.  When she is not living at her new house in Maine and working from the Ocean Classroom office in Boothbay Harbor, she joins the crew on board as an educator.  Alyson looks forward to sharing her interest in Maritime Literature with the oncoming group of students and exposing them to a series of ports stops she has come to know quite well.Alyson graduated with a degree in Sociology from Southampton College and has earned her Master's in Education from SUNY.

 

Abi Iverson

Science Educator

Chicago, IL

Abi joined Ocean Classroom Foundation in 2009 as Educator.  She brings to this semester program 11 years experience in education, both in the classroom and through experiential and extracurricular programs within United States and abroad.  Abi began sailing tall ships professionally in 2007, and enjoys being able to align her passions for sailing, travel, and education.  She looks forward to exploring the Caribbean with her students and sharing her knowledge of Marine Science. Abi holds a BA from Long Island University's Global College with a concentration in Education.

John Petrillo

History Educator

Toms River, NJ

John has been working as an educator with OCF since 2003, and this will be his fourth spring high school trip. When not sailing as an educator in the Discovery high school program, he runs the college semester program SEAmester out of the University of Maine. John has a BS in Social History from Carnegie Mellon University and an MA in American Studies from Brown University. He also holds a USCG 100 ton Near Coastal Master's license.

Christopher Fleming

Chief Mate

Denver, CO

 

Mr. Fleming has worked for Ocean Classroom Foundation for the past four years.  He comes to OCF with 18 years experience working in experiential education and 14 years in the maritime industry.  As Chief Mate on this voyage, Mr. Fleming looks forward to providing a safe program and helping students to define and build their own character. Mr. Fleming holds a USCG 1600 ton Oceans license, is a certified Social Worker, and plays the violin, mandolin, and the marimba.

 

Jill Hughes

2^nd Mate

Buffalo, NY

 

Ms. Hughes has been sailing professionally for the last seven years.  Previously she has sailed for Ocean Classroom Foundation aboard Schooner Westward and she looks forward to her first Caribbean voyage aboard the Harvey Gamage.  When she is not sailing she enjoys developing her culinary skills and quilting.  While she is excited to meet and share this journey with her crew and students, she will miss her pet mouse Butternut, who will be there to catch dock lines in Boston on June 5^th! Jill graduated from Boston University with a degree in International Relations.

 

Ryan Graham

3^rd Mate

Walker Valley, NY

 

Mr. Graham joined Ocean Classroom six years ago as a carpenter and shipwright during a major yard period for Harvey Gamage.  This will be Mr. Graham’s second high school semester program and he looks forward to sharing his bo’s’nry and carpentry skills with the oncoming students.  Above all he is glad to be back aboard one of his favorite schooners, Harvey Gamage. Mr. Graham holds a USCG 100 tom Inland Master's license and an Associate's degree in Film and Digital Media (this blog would look sick if he we in charge of it!).

 

Christopher Hunter

Ship’s Cook

Pasadena, CA

 

Mr. Hunter has worked for Ocean Classroom Foundation nearly year-round for the last five years.  This will be Mr. Hunter’s fourth High School Spring Semester.  Mr. Hunter greatly anticipates our visit to Guanaja, Honduras and educating students on proper galley protocol.  During his time off ship he relaxes at his home in Monte Plata, Dominican Republic.

 

Dave Kelly

Deckhand/Engineer

Marshfield, MA

 

Dave joined Ocean Classroom Foundation last year as engineer.  He looks forward to sharing his knowledge of Harvey Gamage’s marine systems, and derives great energy from those who are excited to learn about how things work.  When he’s not on watch or involved in maintaining the inner workings of our home for the next four months, he hopes to spend time fishing, whale watching, and bolstering his skills in Celestial Navigation. David holds a USCG 100 ton Inland Master's license. 

 

 

Devin Trainor

Deckhand/Medical Officer

Vinalhaven, ME

 

Devin comes to Ocean Classroom with experience as a commercial fisherman in Maine and Alaska.  Growing up in Maine, he has spent a lot time around boats and on the water.  He looks forward to getting to know the students and supporting their transition to tall ship sailors.  At higher altitudes, Devin enjoys mountain biking and competes at the collegiate level. Devin graduated from Humbolt State College, and has the day off today because he turned 24!

 

Jen Allen

Deckhand

Santa Cruz, CA

 

In Spring of 2005, Jen came to Ocean Classroom Foundation as a college semester student with SEAmester.  She has since completed her degree in Marine Biology from Southampton College and has worked for Ocean Classroom as a deckhand for a total of eight months since then.  Jen loves to surf and looks forward to learning along side the students this semester. 

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2010 Discovery Voyage Just Days Away!

OCF's Discovery 2010 Voyage boards in just a few days! This officially begins our blogging from the upcoming spring Discovery voyage aboard Harvey Gamage; all post below this are from previous voyages.

Gamage is getting prepped by her professional crew in Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas, and is awaiting the arrival of her new student crew. Gamage will be our wind-driven classroom and home for the next 16 weeks-stay tuned to this blog for updates, photos, videos, and more!

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