Current position of the SSV Corwith Cramer. Click on the vessel to view position history. Use the layer tools, top right, to change the map style or to view data layers. Dates and times use GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).
SEA Currents: SSV Corwith Cramer
May 24, 2016
Safety Training and Setting Sail
A Watch, happily (?), preparing to abandon ship!
Ship's Log
1900 Position
17° 9’ S x 149° 15’ W
Location
17.5 nm N of Tahiti.
Sail Plan
Motor-sailing on a starboard tack under the main staysail.
Ship Heading
025° psc
Ship Speed
8 knots
Weather / Winds
Winds SE, beaufort force 2, partly cloudy skies, warm and humid. Seas E x N 3-5’
Today we set sail from Papeete, Tahiti; a momentous occasion. The moment we have all been waiting for, planning for, dreaming of these past many months full of anticipation and preparation. We were escorted offshore by several species of seabirds, marking our first oceanographic observations of the cruise; and a truly stunning sunset alive with shifting colors.
This moment in time was built upon months of planning and preparation by the faculty and crew, and most recently, by a day full of training for the newest members of the crew – the eager, curious, and hard-working students of Pacific Reef Expedition. For those of you following our humble blog stay-tuned, you will have a chance to meet each of our adventurous students in the days and weeks to come. But for now, let me tell you of our busy day.
Days on the Robert C. Seamans begin early, 0600 wake ups for a 0620 breakfast of bacon, eggs, pompulmous (imagine sweet grapefruit), and muffins. A round of ‘chores’ to keep us looking ship-shape that includes sweeping and wiping below decks, clearing and cleaning breakfast dishes, and scrubbing the teak deck so we can leave all the dirt from shore behind. And then we launched into a round of training stations, which included:
- Start learning the names of all the lines on the ship and how to safely handle those lines under strain.
- How to safely operate the hydrowinch, a piece of machinery with 3000+m of ¼” cable to which we attach our scientific equipment in order to plumb the depths of the ocean for data!
- How to stand Watch on deck including helm commands, logbook and weather entries, etc.
By then it was time for snack! Thanks Lauren!
And the training continued - the essential Watch Quarter Station Bill. The document which outlines the individual and collective responsibilities of each crewmember during different emergency situations, including – Fire,
Man-Over-Board, and Abandon Ship. We talked through each situation, we walked through each as a drill and we talked again about all that we had learned. Only then did our esteemed captain deem us ready to set sail.
And here we are, just north of Tahiti, bound for the open ocean to begin our scientific mission in earnest - to understand the impacts of the ongoing El Nino event upon coral reef ecosystems across the Central Pacific Ocean.
Stay-tuned, our adventure is just getting started and there is much to explore and discover; so join us.
Cheers,
Jeffrey
PS: To friends and family ashore, sweet dreams.


Reactions
Leave a public comment for students and crew to read when they reach their next port and have access to the internet!
Hope you all had a exciting day in training. Heather Crosby, you look like a little red bird. Glad to see your face.
Daphne Cannon
Whoop whoop - the great adventure has begun!
Very much enjoying hearing about your preparations to head to sea, and I love your red safety suits. Glad to know you are learning your way around the ship. Sounds like an amazing voyage lies ahead. Bon Voyage!
Hope everyone is doing well. Stay safe and enjoy the journey. Please let Alex know the Mets took 2 out of 3 from the Nationals.
Sailors
I am pleased to see blog notes on sweeping,cleaning dishes, and scrubbing the deck. I am sure this will be one of the many skills that will return home.
Enjoy your blog looking forward to reading more about your adventure .Praying for a safe and enjoyable trip.Tell Heather hello from home!!!
Thanks for the blog about this amazing adventure . Love the photos also. Love to Hannah and our best to all her shipmates.
How interesting & what an opportunity! Looking forward to reading more.
Safe travels Alex & all. Xo Aunt Chris
I work a woman who had considerable experience sailing in the Baltic a few years ago. I printed off photos of SSV Seamans along with the specs from the website and shared them with her and other work colleagues. The photos of the ship, where you will be sailing, and what you will be doing left her wishing she was along on the trip. But not just her, me and my office mates as well. Stay safe and enjoy the ride.
How often do you make journal entries?
Hello how are thing going?? Do you have anymore pictures?? Haven’t seen any lately. Tell Heather hello!!
What new skills and perspectives you must be having. Good for you! May you have fair wind and a following sea. Best to Claire and her fellow sailors.
looking forward to updates on the blog trust all is well and exciting work continues !!!!!