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Hi everyone!
JIBING
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I hope you guys are skilled seamen because this has been an eventful ride. Are you ready to jibe? Sometimes to change our course we need to move the sails from one side of the ship to the other. On the first part of our leg to Bermuda, the wind was behind us. Changing over sails when the wind is behind you is called a jibe (rhymes with tribe). On Pride II we've been mostly using four sails. The jib and staysail are on the front or bow, the foresail is set in the middle of the ship, and the main sail is set at the back or aft end.
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It takes all hands on deck to move so many large sails. To jibe, the sails are first pulled or sheeted in tightly, the boat is then turned so that the wind is coming from the other side, and then the sails are eased out on the other side. The crew lines up along the sheet (which is the line used to pull in the sail). They pull together until the Mate yells "Make it fast!" which means to tie it down.
After handling the sail, the crew coils down, which means that the loose ends of all the lines are laid into piles that look like circles. We jibed the boat twice yesterday.
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This morning the wind was flat or so light that we needed to use the engines. We are still crossing the warm waters of the Gulf Stream which made it pleasantly warm on deck. The sun made a spectacular appearance at dawn, and a peacefulness settled in on Pride II. The night before had been a rough ride. Dawn felt like the quiet after the storm. Crew members slept or caught up on chores below decks. During the off watch, some of them read or wrote in journals while the cook prepared the next meal. Everyone was grateful for the chance to rest.
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THE CAPTAIN'S DUTIES
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It has been interesting to watch Captain Miles run his ship. He checks the weather conditions, then sets a course, and chooses which sails to set. He also watches the radar for other ships in our area and writes on a laptop computer to send messages to people on shore. In calm weather, he is seldom on the helm (the wheel that is used to steer the boat). However, he often comes up on deck to look at the conditions. After the sails are jibed, he walks around the gently rolling deck with his hands in his pockets looking at the lines and sails.
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The crew seems to know very well who they will answer to when things are not done correctly. For everyone's safety, he reminded the crew of the importance of proper sail handling, and has advised us jokingly to keep our meals on the inside.
CREW DUTIES
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If you're going to sign on as crew, you need to know your duties. Jason is first mate, and Amy is second mate. They assist Captain Miles in all his duties. The three watch captains, Amy, Jason and Damion, carry out the captain's orders and organize the crew on deck. As the bosun, Damion is also in charge of all the lines on deck. John is the engineer. He maintains the engines and runs them twice a day to recharge the batteries and make fresh water with a desalinater which takes the salt out of the ocean water.
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Jennifer, Dan, Sinker, Kelly, Summer, John and Samantha are deckhands. Without them, it would be impossible to sail the ship. They steer the boat, hoist and trim the sails, and clean the ship inside and out. Let me remind you if you choose to sign on as a deckhand that they climb into the rigging high above the deck to set or furl the sails. Then there's Andy our cook who can prepare three meals a day in a galley that is never still. You can see pictures of the crew and read their biographies on the crew page.
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A ROUGH NIGHT AT SEA
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Our last night at sea before reaching Bermuda was a long night of rain, 15 foot waves, and a 40 knot winds. Right after dinner, it started to build and it continued till noon the next day. Pride II would roll from side to side slamming into waves. The decks were constantly awash with water. These conditions required the skilled hands of Captain Miles. He took the helm for most of the night to ensure the safest, smoothest ride through the heavy seas. Meanwhile for those of us off watch and below, we spent our time chasing pickle jars and plastic bowls. Even the most carefully stowed items occasionally broke loose under these conditions. It was noisy as the boat creaked and groaned under the strain of the wind and waves. I could hear the waves against the hull (side of the boat) and the captain yelling orders.
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The pots and pans in the galley would shift from side to side, while other assorted items would rock in their hideaways. It was a tense night for those on deck, and a sleepless night for those below. Everyone was glad to arrive in Bermuda today. Judging from what I have seen as we docked, this place is spectacular.
Get ready for shore leave. We're going exploring tomorrow!
Your eyes 'n ears,
Leslie Bridgett
YOUR THOUGHTS
- Using a rope or piece of string, practice "coiling down" by laying the rope in clockwise circles one on top the other. When you are finished, flip the pile of coils over so the bitter end (loose end) is on the bottom.
- Picture a thunderstorm or snowstorm which you have experienced. Describe the storm and how things looked after the storm was over.
- Make a chart with three columns with the headings in bold below. Complete the chart with the jobs of the crew members aboard Pride II.
| Crew Title |
Name |
Responsibilities |
| Cook |
Andy Jackson |
Makes 3 meals daily and shops for food |
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- List the sounds (natural and man made) you hear when a thunderstorm passes by, for example, warnings on the television.
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