Sunday, 07 February 1999
As of 0800, the Empire State was located at 18 degrees and 21 minutes North latitude, 064 degrees and 48 minutes West longitude, anchored in Pillsbury Bay, St John USVI, with 5 shots of chain out on the port anchor. The air temperature is 82 degrees F. Water temperature is 80 degrees. The skies are clear and the wind is from the northeast at 5 knots, sea state 1 (flat). Water depth is 50 feet. Barometric pressure is 1018 millibars and steady.
CAPTAIN'S LOG:
We came to beautiful Pillsbury Bay to work and the required lifeboat training was completed early yesterday. The response to every aspect of our stop has been equally positive.
St. John is a wonderful place to stop. The beach is right here and the nearby diving is wonderful. We load liberty launches on the starboard side and drop the cadets off near the beach as an enterprising charter dive service loads well equipped dive boats at the foot of our port brow. Those who want to dive sign up, and off they go.
As a premium, the stop forces many cadets to sharpen small boat handling and scheduling skills. Everyone going ashore rides our launches. Senior cadets were tasked with preparing the boat crew watch bills, making the departure schedules, and dealing with the problems that arise when one attempts to move so many people in such a short time. Safety is a huge concern and the cadets must pay close attention to every detail. Boarding a bus and heading off to town is one thing, the bus is stationary and the sidewalk isn't apt to move either. Not true here; one really has to watch that first step as our small boats can and often do, move up, down, sideways, or even backwards. The cadets did an extraordinary job. They safely transported nearly 400 of their shipmates ashore without a single incident.
Seventy eight cadets took advantage of scuba and snokeling and the cookout on the aft boat deck operated continuously from 1100 until 1900. The preliminary figures show that 1040 hamburgers and over 900 hot dogs were eaten. At 2100, the boat deck aft came alive with the sound of music as the Student Government Association (SGA) stereo system began blasting into the warm night air.
The SGA also sponsored "casino night" in the lower mess deck. We played roulette, blackjack, and craps, using "Buc Dollars" until 2215. Then, the participants used their considerable winnings to bid on auction items. These included late liberty passes, overnight liberty, dinner at the Captain's Table, breakfast in bed served by the Commandant of Cadets, and numerous "unknown" cash prizes ranging from $5 up to $100. It was a blast and everyone relaxed and had a good time.
Today will be filled with more of the same until 1600, when all the fun and sun will abruptly end. We expect to have all hands aboard at 1700, all boats stowed at 1830, and to be underway at 1900. Next stop: MIAMI!
Our daily questions have generated wonderful responses from many of elementary and middle school kids who are following our Sea Term on the web and in the newspapers. I hope that they aren't too difficult. If you have any questions about them or want to respond to them, please contact Captain Gurnon's office at MMA. His e-mail address is... rgurnon@mma.mass.edu ...Thank You very much.