It's been over a week and a half since any of us has stepped on dry land. The mini city that is the Empire State VI keeps humming along towards home. As finals draw near, everyone is getting anxious. Supposedly we are to reach Montauk on Saturday
afternoon and anchor there for some last minute drills. On Sunday, we will move south and west along Long Island to sandy Hook where we will anchor again overnight. Monday morning we will take the pilot on board and begin the last part of the
voyage through New York harbor and up the East River. The ship is scheduled to dock at 10 AM to be greeted by loved ones welcoming their sailors home. The adventure that was the Summer Sea Term 2015 will be over.
I can't wait.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
It's a Beautiful Day
I can't fault the weather on this cruise, it has been spectacular. Other than a few sprinkles in Belfast and some cloudy days sailing to the Mediterranean, it has been nothing but sunshine. Today in the mid-Atlantic, it is absolutely gorgeous.
Light seas, warm temperatures and an unlimited view to the horizon. Days like this make me regret being stuck in the bowels of the ship for eight hours a day, but this is a job not a pleasure cruise. No deck chairs with a waiter delivering cold
drinks. No pool with a water slide. No shuffleboard. But the few minutes I can sit on the deck enjoying a good cigar make it all worthwhile.
Light seas, warm temperatures and an unlimited view to the horizon. Days like this make me regret being stuck in the bowels of the ship for eight hours a day, but this is a job not a pleasure cruise. No deck chairs with a waiter delivering cold
drinks. No pool with a water slide. No shuffleboard. But the few minutes I can sit on the deck enjoying a good cigar make it all worthwhile.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
The Azores
We haven't seen land since leaving the coast of Spain behind us on Saturday morning. The seas were a little choppy that night, nothing too bad for me. I just has to make sure everything was secured so it didn't fly around my cabin. Some cadets
didn't take it so well and the sick bay had a run on seasick medicine. Today when I woke up, we were in sight of land. Sao Miguel in the Azores was off our starboard side. I learned we had to drop off a cadet who was ill and needed more medical
attention than the sick bay could provide. So we stopped off at the island and a boat took him to shore to be treated. After sailing around a bit, we received word that the cadet was going to have to be left there so we continued on westward
toward home.
didn't take it so well and the sick bay had a run on seasick medicine. Today when I woke up, we were in sight of land. Sao Miguel in the Azores was off our starboard side. I learned we had to drop off a cadet who was ill and needed more medical
attention than the sick bay could provide. So we stopped off at the island and a boat took him to shore to be treated. After sailing around a bit, we received word that the cadet was going to have to be left there so we continued on westward
toward home.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Cadiz
We've left our last port, Cadiz, and it was a memorable one. When we docked Tuesday, we looked for the buses to take us to town and we were told none were needed because the main part of Cadiz was at the end of the dock. Right they were. The old
city, the best part, was right at our doorstep. This city was amazing. Its history stretches back 3500 years to the Phoenicians who made a trading port here. It has also been ruled by the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors and the present-day
Spanish. Columbus sailed two of his four journeys to the New World from this port. It has been attacked by the English, Dutch, French and Barbary pirates over the years. Huge walls remain around much of the old city as testament to those ancient
battles. The old city is a warren of alleys and squares dating from the 1500's. Cadiz had the monopoly on Spanish new world trade from 1700 and the fortunes brought in built this city as it is today. The magnificent cathedral in the center is
testament to the wealth of this trade. The streets are filled with shops, cafes and restaurants. There was plenty for everyone to do in the old city alone. I went to a great Flamenco performance at the cafe La Cava on Friday night
But present-day Cadiz is much larger. The new city to the east, also has a trove of attractions. There are two gorgeous beaches there that were in walking distance of the pier. I spent Friday afternoon at one, La Playa de la Victoria,
swimming and soaking in the sun.
The College, as usual, arranged some great trips. I went on a jeep safari that took us east along the beautiful coast as far as Trafalgar, visiting cliffs, a fishing village and some fun beach towns. In addition, I took a day long trip to
Seville, 100 miles to the North. We got to visit the Spanish Square, the Cathedral, the Alcazar Palace and many of the other sites of this great city. The tomb of Christopher Columbus is located in the cathedral.
With everyone back on the ship and accounted for, we departed on Saturday morning, heading west to return home. We have 16 days of sailing and lots of work ahead of us, with no more rest, until the end of this voyage. On to New York.
city, the best part, was right at our doorstep. This city was amazing. Its history stretches back 3500 years to the Phoenicians who made a trading port here. It has also been ruled by the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors and the present-day
Spanish. Columbus sailed two of his four journeys to the New World from this port. It has been attacked by the English, Dutch, French and Barbary pirates over the years. Huge walls remain around much of the old city as testament to those ancient
battles. The old city is a warren of alleys and squares dating from the 1500's. Cadiz had the monopoly on Spanish new world trade from 1700 and the fortunes brought in built this city as it is today. The magnificent cathedral in the center is
testament to the wealth of this trade. The streets are filled with shops, cafes and restaurants. There was plenty for everyone to do in the old city alone. I went to a great Flamenco performance at the cafe La Cava on Friday night
But present-day Cadiz is much larger. The new city to the east, also has a trove of attractions. There are two gorgeous beaches there that were in walking distance of the pier. I spent Friday afternoon at one, La Playa de la Victoria,
swimming and soaking in the sun.
The College, as usual, arranged some great trips. I went on a jeep safari that took us east along the beautiful coast as far as Trafalgar, visiting cliffs, a fishing village and some fun beach towns. In addition, I took a day long trip to
Seville, 100 miles to the North. We got to visit the Spanish Square, the Cathedral, the Alcazar Palace and many of the other sites of this great city. The tomb of Christopher Columbus is located in the cathedral.
With everyone back on the ship and accounted for, we departed on Saturday morning, heading west to return home. We have 16 days of sailing and lots of work ahead of us, with no more rest, until the end of this voyage. On to New York.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Bunkering
Ships need fuel and the Empire State VI is no exception. After travelling thousands of miles, it was time to gas up for the journey home. This is known as "bunkering" in nautical terminology. The bunkering services at Gibratar are well known to
sailors for their price and convenience. It is located at the convergence of two great continents, Europe and Africa, and the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It is probably the busiest area in the world for shipping.
The techniques of bunkering are essential for mariners to learn. On Monday morning we anchored off the coast of Gibralar. The bunkering tanker pulled up aside and connected its hoses and began pumping. Smoking and cell phone use were banned
from the ship for the duration of the process as the smell of petroleum filled the air. The process took 9 hours as we took on tons of fuel. Filled up by 2000 (8 PM), we raised anchor and headed out to the Atlantic and our last port of Cadiz. We
are scheduled to arrive Tuesday evening, July 21, for 4 days of rest and relaxation before crossing the ocean and returning back to New York.
sailors for their price and convenience. It is located at the convergence of two great continents, Europe and Africa, and the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It is probably the busiest area in the world for shipping.
The techniques of bunkering are essential for mariners to learn. On Monday morning we anchored off the coast of Gibralar. The bunkering tanker pulled up aside and connected its hoses and began pumping. Smoking and cell phone use were banned
from the ship for the duration of the process as the smell of petroleum filled the air. The process took 9 hours as we took on tons of fuel. Filled up by 2000 (8 PM), we raised anchor and headed out to the Atlantic and our last port of Cadiz. We
are scheduled to arrive Tuesday evening, July 21, for 4 days of rest and relaxation before crossing the ocean and returning back to New York.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Hot, hot, hot!
Since the Captain decided to stay in the Med for an extra few days, we've been sailing in extremely warm waters, about 85 degrees. Because the ship derives its cooling from the water around us, the air conditioning has not been working very
well. My cabin and the library are tolerable, but the halls of the ship are like a sauna. Hopefully, when we reach the cooler waters of the Atlantic, things will improve. One thing that may contradict this is that we are expecting to bunker
(take on fuel) in Gibraltar on the way out of the Med. This fuel is stored in tanks directly below the library and is so thick that it has to be heated to 150 degrees to flow. Despite an insulated floor, much of this heat rises into the library.
On other cruises, it has gotten so hot, that I've had to shut the library because it was unhealthy to work there. We will see.
We are expecting to dock in Cadiz, Spain sometime Tuesday evening the 21st. This is the last port of the cruise. I am looking forward to explore the city which is supposed to be the oldest continually occupied city in western Europe. I am going
on a side trip to Seville, about 40 miles away on Thursday. This should be an enjoyable port. After that, it's 2+ weeks of solid work until we arrive home.
well. My cabin and the library are tolerable, but the halls of the ship are like a sauna. Hopefully, when we reach the cooler waters of the Atlantic, things will improve. One thing that may contradict this is that we are expecting to bunker
(take on fuel) in Gibraltar on the way out of the Med. This fuel is stored in tanks directly below the library and is so thick that it has to be heated to 150 degrees to flow. Despite an insulated floor, much of this heat rises into the library.
On other cruises, it has gotten so hot, that I've had to shut the library because it was unhealthy to work there. We will see.
We are expecting to dock in Cadiz, Spain sometime Tuesday evening the 21st. This is the last port of the cruise. I am looking forward to explore the city which is supposed to be the oldest continually occupied city in western Europe. I am going
on a side trip to Seville, about 40 miles away on Thursday. This should be an enjoyable port. After that, it's 2+ weeks of solid work until we arrive home.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Sailing the Strait of Messina
The Captain decided that the distance from Mallorca to Cadiz was a little too short for us to enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean. He took us on a detour east so that those of us who joined the 'B" cruise could get a glimpse of Italy. This
morning we entered the Strait of Messina, the narrow channel between Sicily and the "toe" of the Italian mainland. At its narrowest, the Strait is only 2.5 miles wide and only 12 miles at its widest. We're so close you feel that you could swim to
Italy. We should get through by this evening, then swing around to the east and sail a few more days on the calm Mediterranean to Cadiz.
morning we entered the Strait of Messina, the narrow channel between Sicily and the "toe" of the Italian mainland. At its narrowest, the Strait is only 2.5 miles wide and only 12 miles at its widest. We're so close you feel that you could swim to
Italy. We should get through by this evening, then swing around to the east and sail a few more days on the calm Mediterranean to Cadiz.
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