Pull in the gangplank and hoist the sails! Today we pulled away from the dock in St. Croix and plunged straight into our voyage to San Juan (with a lovely stop in the British Virgin Islands only days away). However, adjusting to life on the high seas came with its own unique challenges. Many struggled with seasickness, some struggled with coiling heavy ship line, and everyone struggled with staying cool in the bright Caribbean sun.

Welcome to the SEA Penn State program blog! I am happy to report that all 24 Pennsylvania State University participants (22 students, their professor Monica Medina, and teaching assistant Julia Stewart) have arrived in St. Croix and are safely aboard the Corwith Cramer.

Today we all said ‘goodbye’ to Corwith Cramer. I could see her proudly standing in the golden waters of St. Croix from the window of my plane: that was my last sunset with her. I believe not a single person remained unchanged through the program. But it might be a little too early to see the difference yet.

There are no happy returns without departures, and three months ago, you—the loved ones of C-289—said goodbye to your people in Woods Hole. Three months later, they will soon return to you.

Welcome to another episode of Muriel’s Blog Post! Many things have happened as y’all have been reading these posts, so here are some more! Back on December 18, I finally had the wonderful experience of being the assistant steward in galley all day.

The Woods Hole Partnership Education Program is seeking applicants for its 10-week summer program in 2020. The program is supported by six science institutions in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and recruits talent from all backgrounds but especially from minority groups that are underrepresented in marine and environmental sciences.

‘Twas the night before Boatsmas and all through the sea,
the Cramer was sailing, ‘cause we had places to be!

SEA Semester in the NEWS
“When We See Whales” - Transcribing Captain Lawrence’s Logbook
By Mia Sigler, S-283
Sea History Magazine, Winter 2019-20

Mia Sigler, a senior at Mount Holyoke and alumna of SEA Semester class S-283, the Global Ocean, has written a detailed account of the research she and her classmates did on the logbook of Falmouth whaleman Capt. Lewis Lawrence.  Mia helped transcribe the logbook, studied an original chart from Lawrence’s 1849 voyage, and she and her class followed portions of Capt. Lawrence’s path in the South Pacific in the fall of 2018.

As we leave Falmouth Harbor, Antigua behind, it is hard to believe we are sailing the last leg of our journey. It feels like yesterday we were splashing around the waters of St. Croix before embarking on the SSV Corwith Cramer.

Hello family, friends, and prospective students stalking the blogs! I am Rikki Borkowski, a student of the class of C-289! I have written once before during the beginning of our sea component and here I am again as we begin to finish up our semester.