Teacher Aboard

Photo by John Larsen

Photo by David Weintraub

Welcome to San Franciso, the city with a spectacular hillside setting overlooking a splendid harbor. In many ways, arriving in San Francisco was akin (like) to coming home for several of the crew. Wes, Jen, and Pamela had worked at the local maritime museum just a few months ago and, therefore, had many friends waiting to greet them. Other crew, such as John and KC, had family fly out to visit. Pamela and Captain Parrott have family living in the area. So many of the crew members scattered during off hours to spend some quality time with friends or family whom they had not seen for some time.

However, the crew could not leave without at least one night of good fun together. In the mood for something entirely different, it was decided to test each others' skills at knocking flat a few bowling pins. The challenge, of course, had to done with style and enthusiasm. Consequently, bowling shirts were made just for this historic occasion! Not wanting to leave the Pride spirit unrepresented, the crew bought a large paper werewolf and gave him a crew shirt to wear. Needless to say, it was important for this new crew member to accompany them everywhere they went.

The real question, of course, was once shanghaied (captured & forced to sail on the ship) would he be a "right good mate?"

MAJESTIC BRIDGES

As Pride II entered San Francisco Bay, five majestic bridges welcomed her to this crossroads of headlands (points of land attached by bridges). The beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge is spellbinding and an engineering triumph. It was completed in 1937 after a four year struggle against fog, treacherous (difficult) tides, and constant winds. On a clear day, a cliffside park along the Golden Gate provides a bird's eye view onto the decks of ocean going vessels.

Pride II would have provided a magnificent sight from here if she had not been hidden by fog as she made her entrance to the harbor. Unfortunately her sailing entry with cannons firing was masked in the foggy conditions. Nevertheless, she was greeted by the tall ship, Hawaiian Chieftain and a crowd of folks from the Maritime Museum.

Photo by Kerrick James

Another bridge that also provides a lovely view of San Franciso is the Bay Bridge. This spans the distance from San Francisco to Oakland. Sadly, this is the bridge whose upper deck caved in the during 1989 earthquake.

NAVIGATION

A glance at a map shows that, although San Francisco Bay itself is relatively large, the entrance is narrow. In addition, the shoreline is often shrouded (covered) by coastal fog. The fog results when the cool ocean air of the cold California Current collides with the warmer air over land.

These foggy conditions not only prevented explorers from discovering this protected harbor until 1769, but also required Captain Parrott to use radar to locate land, navigation marks, and other ships as he selected his course through the fog and into the harbor. To help with foggy conditions, the Golden Gate Bridge is equipped with horns that have different tones. Captain Parrott used the direction of these tones to check his position as he guided Pride II under the columns of the bridge. The fog was so dense (thick) that you could not even see the bridge as Pride II passed under it!

To navigate a ship, you must start from a known location. When you leave a dock or pass a navigation marker, such as a lighthouse or floating buoy, you plot (record) your position on a nautical (marine/boat) chart and write it in a log (notebook). When you are in the middle of the ocean, your latitude can be determined by measuring the angle of several stars or the sun above the horizon with a device called a sextant. Longitude is calculated using the time of day. Obviously, cloudy conditions and a moving ship can make these measurements impossible or difficult to take accurately.

Pride II uses an electronic instrument called a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) which provides the position digitally (in numbers). Nevertheless, the crew practices making star and sun sighting (angles) with the sextant in the event that the electronic equipment fails to work properly.

Starting from a known location without the help of a GPS, you can keep track of your position by using the formula "Distance = Rate x Time." Noting your compass direction, your speed, and the time traveled, this formula will predict where you should be. This process is called "dead reckoning." However, as Captain Parrott points out, currents can play a major role in determining your final position.

In San Francisco, the tidal current is strong and could easily carry Pride II sideways or slow her forward progress if she was sailing into the current. The actual position is always checked against radar and available navigation marks. Floating navigation aids are anchored to identify the deep sections of channels and rivers or to mark shallow areas. As you enter a river to RETURN home, the RED markers are always kept to your RIGHT.

Thus mariners use the expression "RED, RIGHT, RETURN." The red marks also display even numbers on a triangular board or on a cone shaped buoy (float). Consequently you leave to your LEFT the GREEN odd numbers which are displayed on a square board or on a large black floating can. A series of these markers lined the entrance of the channel to San Francisco Bay.

ALCATRAZ

Photo by Kerrick James

As your eyes span San Franciso Bay, a formidable (strong) fortress surrounded by water makes a strong statement about crime. Alcatraz, which was phased out as a federal penitentiary (prison) in 1963, now stands as a reminder of the penalty (punishment) criminals suffer for their crimes against society. The prison is now open to the public and you can get there by ferry. A tour of the main block with its steel bars and claustrophobic (uncomfortably small) cells makes you shutter to think of spending years of your life in confinement (no freedom of movement) and without the world of nature around you. While touring the prison, you can listen to a tape narrated (spoken) by a former inmate. You are invited to imagine the prison life that criminals were forced to endure. It was here that gangster Al Capone, the Birdman of Alcatraz (Robert Stroud), and "Machine Gun Kelly" served their time. After leaving the closeness of the prison walls behind, you have an instant, renewed appreciation of the freedom that we take for granted every day.

CABLE CARS

If I were to imagine San Francisco, cable cars would be foremost (first) in my mind. No trip to this City on the Bay would be complete without a ride on these charming streetcars. Jammed packed with passengers, these wonders of transportation dutifully (regularly) carry passengers over the steep hills to numerous points in town.

Photo by Mark Gibson

Continue with the second part of the September 24, 1998 log.

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