Between the port events during the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE(r), the American Sail Training Association organizes races for the vessels. These races are a great way for the crews to show off their sail handling skills and encourages a little friendly competition out on the water.
Watch the below video to see how the LYNX crew deals with their lack of wind during their race from San Francisco to Oxnard, California against the EAGLE. Alas, no amount of supplicating to Odin (a Norse god associated with wisdom, war, battle, death, victory, and the hunt) was able to pull them out of these doldrums-the previously undefeated LYNX lost to the Coast Guard vessel.
Sailors are a very superstitious lot. When out on the deep, formidable ocean, exposed to the elements and at the mercy of the weather, having rituals help a sailor maintain a semblance of control. Superstitions are a way to respect the ocean, your ship, and to always remind us that, while at sea, we are there because of the benevolence of Mother Nature.
The following video is of the Bosun on board the USCG Barque EAGLE. He tells us about his favorite nautical expression, “Between the Devil and the deep blue sea”, and why you should never let an albatross land on your ship deck.
And, because it is almost Friday, click here for Stevie Wonder performing a classic.
Often, a phrase makes it’s way into regular conversation and we don’t give it a passing thought. Once again, the ASTA interns were on hand this summer to educate and enlighten others by interviewing captain’s and crew about their favorite nautical sayings that have made their way into our everyday expressions.
In this video, the bosun on the sail training vessel Kaisei channels his inner Beastie Boy and gives us his definition of Brass Monkey.
For more theories on the definition of Brass Monkey click here
Even though their song is about the drink, click here to watch a fun video of the Beastie Boys performing “Brass Monkey”
The San Diego Festival of Sail was a grand finale to an overall wonderful summer race series. The visiting ships were nestled in amongst San Diego harbor’s already impressive fleet creating a cozy mass of flags and masts that could be seen for miles.This combined with the wide array of vendors and friendly, enthusiastic volunteers made the entire event a success.
This summer, the interns asked some of the captains and crew members for their favorite nautical terminology or superstitions. The results were both surprising and interesting.
And, as a bonus, since it is Friday and many people will be out socializing this weekend, here is some good fodder for dazzling conversation, courtesy of LCDR James of the HMCS ORIOLE and the Canadian Navy.
With bittersweet emotions, Jonathan (the Race Director) and I boarded the red-eye flight home last Monday from San Diego. What a wonderful event to end the summer! Starting with the dramatic entrance of the Colombian Navy’s sail training vessel Gloria, the festival was a whirlwind of activity as the Race Team worked long hours while at the same time trying to appreciate that this was the final event of the summer. Read the rest of this entry »
With the end of another exciting festival, Karen, Jo, and I all set sail onboard Eagle for the final leg of our journey from San Pedro to San Diego.This is the first time we have all sailed together, and it was a very different experience from the other ships we have sailed on thus far.We also brought with us an education program of 20 high school students from the various port cities we have visited this summer.There was a broad range of sailing experience but the students were all enthusiastic to sail and to participate in the EAGLE Seamanship Program.In fact, there were three students onboard with whom I had sailed before on Adventuress, my first ship of the summer.Read the rest of this entry »
