Liberty will expire early tonight because of the early departure tomorrow. Freshmen must be back by 2100 (9pm), sophomores by 2200 (10pm), juniors by 2200 (11pm) and seniors must return by midnight or they turn into pumpkins. The ship will have an early reveille tomorrow morning as everyone prepares to get underway. Departure watches will be set by 0330 (3:30am), the gear will be tested (including the steam whistle which will disturb the sleep of more than a few residents of Taylors Point), lines will be "singled up",and the gangways brought in . Finally, at 0720, the ship will be pulled backwards out into the canal by three tugboats ,turn Southwest towards New York and begin the exciting 1998 sea term.
Parents, families and friends that want to see the ship off are encouraged to come down to the campus on Saturday morning, 10 Jan. Please be advised that the cadets will not be granted liberty Saturday morning ( too much to do aboard and too hard to round up the chickens and get them back into the coop). The dining hall ashore will be open at 0600 (6am) with free coffee, donuts, and juice (courtesy of President Mitchell). The ship will depart on time... time and tide wait for no one...and the vessel must move at slack, high tide.