2014 FEATURE
“Haul away!”
Aboard a ship, there are few events more exciting than the raising of its sails. It is a community endeavor, needing many hands ready to work in unison. Once our hands are in position, and the line is uncoiled, the tug-of-war against gravity begins. We furiously pull the line, and the sail responds, steadily rising up the mast in rhythm with our efforts. Within minutes, the sails are set, and we are officially underway. This J-Term, 15 classmates and I experienced firsthand the intensity of life at sea. As students of English 239: Tales of the Sea, we ventured to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands with Professor of English Nick Preus (‘69). For nearly two weeks we lived aboard the schooner Roseway, a National Historic Landmark, exploring maritime literature in context while also engaging in hands-on seamanship. What follows is my account of the voyage. Roseway is the primary educational platform for the World Ocean School, a nonprofit organization specializing in experiential learning throughout
the Atlantic East Coast and Caribbean Sea. It is one of six remaining Grand Banks schooners and has served as a fishing yacht, pilot boat and charter windjammer since its commissioning in 1925. Early in our voyage, we learn the importance of on-deck communication. We alternate shifts on bow watch, using a series of hand signals to inform the captain of upcoming boats and buoys we spy from the forward deck. With feet planted firmly and grip held tightly on the foremast or rigging, we keep our eyes peeled, often facing a salty spray. Sailing aboard Roseway is many things, but rarely is it dry. In our watch groups, we also perform boat checks on Roseway’s utilities, including its bilges, generator and engine. And, every hour on the hour,
we record our longitude and latitude position in the ship’s voyage log. During seamanship rotation, we learn sailing theory. With assistance from the crew, we practice tying knots, coiling lines and identifying the schooner’s pins, to which essential lines and tackle are fastened. We also practice for the Deckhand Olympics, a competition designed to test our sailing skills and knowledge. Throughout our voyage, we saw many other ships, but none are quite like Roseway. Cruise ships, mega-yachts and hobby sailboats litter the Caribbean during winter months as vacationers seek a refuge of warmth. The sight of our 1925 schooner never failed to grab attention. Professor Preus called many of the popular sailing vessels “stick-
A view from the porthole
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Chips • Special January Issue
Photographs by Walker Nyenhuis