Hello from the open ocean! Today has been a whirlwind—you don’t get Saturdays off while crossing the Atlantic on a tall ship. My watch had the morning watch, 0700-1300, and in a few hours we’ll be taking the mid watch, 2300-0300. I’m pretty excited because that is my favorite watch so far; I fall asleep really quickly afterward, though sometimes I sleep through breakfast. Even though we have this nice 10 hour gap in between, don’t get the idea that we’ve just been sitting here twiddling out thumbs.

Today, the Cramer is heading farther into the high seas, with swells up to 15ft! Trust me, this gives an entirely new meaning to ‘rock and roll’. I want to use this blog opportunity to explain a little further into exactly how SEA students are spending our time so far on the Cramer. Personally, I am overwhelmed. Try learning a new language, adjusting to a new lifestyle, and having pending assignments due all within a week. This is by far the steepest learning curve I have ever experienced.

Dear family, friends, and all other wonderful people reading this blog,

Over the past few days we have been getting some great wind and doing lots of sailing, putting away lots of miles! Last night we finally left Spain’s EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) and now are on the international high seas of the Atlantic where the sailing and science are free. We have also been experiencing lots of big waves rolling the ship around, especially today.

The Corwith Cramer sails Southwest under an unusually cloudy sky this morning, with a stiff breeze at her back and only open ocean in sight. How strange is it to look for miles in every direction and not see a single point of land – something I expect that we will get used to, but for now remains one of the more disquieting sensations on board. Disquieting, but freeing, as if this tiny world of the Corwith Cramer exists beyond any earth-bound realm.

Ahoy from the Canary Current! We’re currently sailing away (good riddance, motoring) for Dominica. All of us are being put hard to work on setting (putting up) and striking (taking down) the sails. To everyone reading right now, be prepared for some tough calloused hands when we get back. School on the Corwith Cramer is most definitely a different experience than school on land. The late nights and plentiful naps from college have been preparing us for the sporadic sleep schedule on board. Personally speaking, I might just like this schedule more. Also, how often does class get interrupted on land by five dolphins playing off the starboard side??

After being trapped in port by massive cruise ships obstructing our way out to sea, C-263 is finally underway! It has been a whirlwind of a day. At roughly 2230 last night, the Cramer crew hurriedly made their way out of port in between cruise ship arrivals and departures. We waved goodbye to the bright lights of Gran Canaria, and sailed into the black, starry night. I thought that I would be nervous and scared, but when we finally left port I was overcome with excitement and enthusiasm for our adventure to come.

Hello from the Sailing School Vessel Corwith Cramer and the ship’s company of trip C-263. All is well aboard and the student crew had a great day learning the ropes, taking part in safety drills and getting acquainted with their new home.

C-263 students joined the ship today at 1400. We are currently wrapping upthe first round of safety orientations. The staff will take the dock watch tonight, so that students can have a final full night of sleep before we get underway tomorrow afternoon.

SEA Semester® in the News:
“LSU Geology Student Sets Sail to Investigate Global Climate Change”
LSU News | Nov. 10, 2015

BATON ROUGE – LSU Department of Geology student Jennifer Kenyon (’16) will set sail on an oceanographic research vessel across the Atlantic Ocean to investigate one of today’s foremost scientific challenges: global climate change. As part of a selective 12-week study abroad program, Kenyon and her classmates in the SEA Semester: Oceans & Climate program, will become working crew members of an 134-foot research vessel, the SSV Corwith Cramer and will use advanced oceanographic instruments to research diverse marine ecosystems as they sail from the Canary Islands to St. Croix from Nov. 14 to Dec. 23.

Read the full story.

The students of C-263, SEA Semester: Oceans & Climate, will join the SSV Corwith Cramer by Saturday, November 14th. They will depart the Canary Islands and arrive in St. Croix by December 23rd, with port stops scheduled for Dominica and St. John.