Editor’s note: Five of our Stay’s’l students and an instructor spent four days aboard the Schooner Tyrone where they experienced life aboard a classic sailing ship. While at sea they studied sailing, seamanship, science as well as day to day living on the water. Below are daily reports from the Tyrone’s captain, Rayford Chew:
Day 1
This morning after boarding around 9:30 we had roughly an hour and a half of orientation and safety discussion.
We got the mainsail set still at anchor and had lunch aboard before raising anchor around noon. We sailed out of Linekin Bay around and into Boothbay Harbor seeing several other schooners on the way and passing close by the US Brig Niagara (large sailing vessel anchored in the Harbor). We sailed back out with the wind picking up and hit 7.5 knots. Hove to off Fisherman’s Island to complete some science activities noting any wildlife seen and checking the salinity, temperature, PH of the water and dropping the Secchi disc finding the visibility in the water to be quite good (9 meters).
We sailed back in to Linekin Bay to anchor at Barrett’s park. Luca and Blithe helped me make tacos for dinner and now we are cleaning up and taking some time to journal. All were pleasantly surprised to learn canned chicken can be really good despite much feedback to the contrary before dinner was made. We’ll likely take science readings this evening and start winding down to our evening muster where we talk about the day, our highs and lows. Tomorrow we may row in for a brief swim call at Barrett’s park (there are many large jelly fish otherwise we’d swim off the boat). After lunch we’ll sail out for the day again hoping to get science readings off Cuckolds light and be back for the lobster bake at Cabbage Island.
Day 2
This morning we woke up in a nice peaceful lobster cove. Knowing we were in for a hot day we got a navigation lesson in early, did some science and got underway as the breeze was picking up. We sailed much of the day with a quick trip around into Boothbay to see and sail with many of the schooners in town. We sailed back out heaving to off the north end of Squirrel Island and then again out at the safe water buoy for the Damariscotta River to complete our science data gathering. Half got the opportunity to steer Tyrone today though the wind did pick up considerably which cut that short. We’ll make sure the remainder get a chance tomorrow.
We sailed back in to Linekin bay in company with the schooner Grace Bailey who was coming down from Rockland to anchor in front of Cabbage Island around 3:00 in the afternoon. Before heading to the lobster bake we trailed the net and took some water samples. Many lions mane jelly fish so unfortunately swimming has not been a possibility. By the time we got to the lobster bake all were quite tired but hungry. I was quite impressed with everyone’s behavior on cabbage island and we all got to go up as a group to receive our gift bag so maybe a photo in the newspaper. After cabbage island we were asked to go over to the East Side Waterfront Park for the night so we are here now and all ready for bed. Looking forward to sailing again with all the other schooners tomorrow, learning knots, collecting science data in Boothbay Harbor and fireworks!
Day 3
This morning we woke up and made a breakfast of scrambled eggs and homemade biscuits. We were excited for the sailing day and filled our morning prior to shoving off with rowing the small boat and science collection/observation. Some notable differences between our data collected further out vs within Boothbay Harbor. I think all who rowed learned a lesson in teamwork and patience in a two station row boat rowing with another person. We found a basketball floating, everyone insisted on signing it so surely it will go in a trophy case at BSSC?
We got off the dock about noon after lunch and set sail including the main gaff topsail right in the middle of the inner harbor which was a new sail for the crew. We sailed out and met the other schooners off mouse island for the sail in. A lot of boats came this year for the festival so the parade of sail was jam packed but unlike last year the wind was light (luckily for me). We sailed out and in several times and once all were hot and getting slightly bored we decided it was a good time for a swim. We sailed onto a mooring in front of the shipyard, checked for jelly fish and all jumped in. Some took the opportunity for soap and a fresh water rinse off as well a good idea after three days on the boat.
After we got our fill of swimming we lowered the mainsail, got off the mooring and headed for the east side park dock around 5:00. The working water front side of the park filled up with food, a band, party and some visible friends which was a tempting distraction for some of our crew who wanted to join but we all stayed on the boat or dock and made the most of our time with lessons and a game of Uno enjoying the music from a distance. Carolyn and Amelia were kind enough to make dinner while I gave a knot tying lesson in the cockpit. We learned the bowline, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches and square knot. We also learned what a heaving line is, how to toss one and had a competition to see who could toss it the furthest. Some friends came down to the boat to say hi. It was really nice to see Ben, Polly and Hadley who came on the trip last year and got to discuss their time on the boat. I think Polly even helped Blithe and Lettie with the dishes as we were finishing up dinner.
We unfortunately suffered a broken triangle which is a tool we use for navigation (no big deal) which then led to an interesting unplanned muster (crew meeting) mostly about, “ship, shipmate, self” which is a moto many tall ships use while aboard to stress the ship (and its tools) come first as they are critical to keeping everyone safe then shipmates and last but not unimportantly self. I think the main point landed but we kind of devolved into some less relevant personal stories.
Before fireworks as a few families of crew members showed up we held our Tyrone quiz with prizes from the swag bag of trinkets we received at cabbage island. The topics included science, deck general and navigation (maybe the hardest lesson of the trip for all to follow). All did quite well and all seemed to enjoy the prizes. And thank you to the family members that came aboard for fireworks I think the crew was happy to share that with you and show you the boat and what they’ve been up to.
All in all the trip has gone very well and I am quite impressed with all of the crew. Despite the very hot days we have all put in our best effort to stay engaged, have fun and learn. It has been a pleasure having BSSC science instructor Amelia aboard as she has added a whole other depth to the data collection and science lesson that is beyond the knowledge of Carolyn and myself. We look forward to pancake breakfast tomorrow and one more day of sailing!
Day 4
What a great final day we had! We woke up and made a pancake breakfast with blueberry compote. We prepped the boat for sailing, set the foresail and sailed directly off the dock in a light breeze that picked up at Tumbler Island. Midway out of the harbor we got the rest of the sails up and flew along at 7 knots right out to Cuckolds light. We tacked back in around squirrel island and into Linekin Bay anchoring in front of BSSC around 1:00. We held one last muster where we discussed our overall trip highs, lows and what something we learned this week that we want to do more of in the future. We cleaned up the boat, packed all our stuff and disembarked back to BSSC at 2:15.
The trip was quite successful and we were so happy to have the kids aboard. I think everyone was challenged, learned, had a lot of fun and grew a little bit with some memories they won’t soon forget and that’s what we’re all about.
Very big thank you to Pauline and BSSC, all of the sponsors and Amelia for joining us! We hope to keep it going in future years.