Perched upon the narrow wooden platform, partially up the foremast, I secured myself to the shrouds with my black and gold harness. I dangled my toes over the edge, 40 feet above the surface of the ocean. My harness straps pinched my thighs as I scooted closer to overcautiously grasp the sturdy rigging. I

SEA Semester in the NEWS
WBUR (Boston NPR)
“Millions Of Tons Of Plastic Are Dumped In The Ocean Every Year. We Don’t Know Where Most Of It Ends Up”

For nearly 50 years, the Sea Education Association has taken college students sailing on the ocean to study biology. During the weeks-long voyages, students drag a plankton net (imagine a super-long butterfly net) next to the ship twice a day and study what they catch.

Today is special. It’s my 17th birthday! I was “lucky” enough to have the late night watch, which meant I was awake when the clocked struck twelve. My pals rushed me over to lab the minute it was past twelve to show off a new zooplankton they found, but all I found as I opened the curtain to a dimly lit laboratory was not a rare new breed of zooplankton.

At the helm, the wheel jerking my arms along with the swells, I struggled to see the heading as rain sheeted sideways into my face, leaving only one eye functional. The dull red light that normally lights up the compass at night blocked by the rain drops resting on the top of the compass dome.

Thursday, October 17, 5:30pm

Power has been restored at the SEA campus. Normal operations will resume tomorrow.

Thursday, October 17, 2:45pm
SEA offices are closed today and power is currently down. The backup generator power is providing electricity for the Madden Center and all students are warm and safe, with staff keeping them company on campus.

SEA Semester students make discoveries while exploring Earth’s newest island, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai!

I heard the tell-tale rustling outside of my curtain and the faint whisper signifying the start of my watch. I could already feel the cold permeating below decks as I quickly dressed in my many layers and foulies before heading upstairs to the dog house to read the night orders.

What a week! Having just finished an expedition to the earth’s newest landmass, Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) in the Kingdom of Tonga a few days ago, I thought I’d write a few thoughts on this latest expedition to Earth’s newest landmass.

Note: All aboard Cramer are well today, riding out the storm at anchor in the Sakonnet River. Their plan is to remain at anchor tonight and get underway for sea early Friday morning pending weather updates.

Hello, landlubbers!  This is Lila; a deckhand (sailing intern), SEA alum (shout out to S-278!), and overall wind enthusiast.  I was lucky enough to join the crew a day before we set sail.

My digital Timex watch startled me as Tuesday turned to Wednesday and the 15th advanced to the 16th. I scanned attentively from the bowsprit for any boats or land masses lurking in the dark, partially aided by the sparkling lights scattered along the island walls astern.