Captain's Log for Saturday, 15 January 2000
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At 0700 EST (1200 GMT) the T/S Empire State was enroute to Funchal, Madeira and located at 32 degrees and 51 minutes North Latitude and 21 degrees 58 minutes West Longitude. She was steering course 094 degrees true at a speed of 15 knots. The weather was deteriorating. The skies were cloudy with winds out of the north at 26 knots. Barometric pressure was dropping at1019 millibars of mercury. The air temperature was 69 degrees and seawater was 65 degrees. Seas were 4 to 8 feet and the depth of water beneath the keel was 2320 fathoms. CAPTAIN'S LOG 15 JANUARY 2000 I spoke too soon. Rather, the 1/C Cadet in charge of weather spoke too soon. Northerly winds approaching gale force are crunching us. The seas are building from the north, so given our easterly course, the waves are striking on the port beam. Consequently, we are having a good roll, followed by a great one. I don't think it is dampening spirits because we will be safety moored in beautiful downtown Funchal by this time tomorrow and everyone is excited about that. The day before entering port is always busy. As usual, Cadets are fully involved with the daily watch and training routine. Now they must deal with the added burden of preparing for Captain's Personnel and Berthing Inspections. Shining shoes and brass, swabbing and waxing decks, and properly stowing gear is added to studies and watchstanding. Discipline is critical to life at sea and here is where it begins. I also know that with the frenzy of activities in port, now will be the only time we will have to get things below decks shipshape. We do these big inspections just before arrival in each port. Failing Captain's Inspection may mean loss of liberty for everyone in the compartment so preparations are approached with that fact in mind. If one cadet has trouble, then there is almost always enough help from shipmates to fix it. The berthing compartments are divided by class and gender: 4/C sleep in one area, 3/C in another etc. It is entirely conceivable that a significant portion of an entire class might fail to meet expectations during inspection. With delayed liberty as the stick and beautiful Funchal (and the opportunity to walk on ground that does not move) as the carrot, they always manage to do it right the second time. After the grueling inspections, the Cadets are treated to the renowned "Tom and Joe" show. Starring none other than Captain Tom Bushy and the Commandant of Cadets Joe Domingos these father-son/daughter talks will stress the importance of proper behavior ashore, as well as the details of what the particular port might offer.. 'Gotta change for inspection. I have to look my best too. CADET COMMENT: ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF 4/C MELISSA DEVALLES The seas picked up today and the sky was consistently gray, but no storms...yet. I am anxiously awaiting the chance to tell you about some exciting storm where the ship "pitches and heaves", people roam from bulkhead to bulkhead, and mess-deck trays fly about. Until that storm comes, here's to smooth sailing. Despite the nice weather, we have frequent fire and boat drills just in case of an emergency. Today's boat drill was the first at sea. Everything went okay. We donned our protective life saving gear and mustered at our assigned abandon ship stations while a division attacked the "fire" somewhere below decks. It is hard work carrying so much equipment from damage control lockers up and down ladders to the scene and that job is done by upper classmen who have more training. While people were fighting the "fire", muster was taken and every last person was very quickly accounted for. Some people actually climbed up into the boats. The ship's officers very carefully supervised the entire thing.
Today was also my last day of MSEP "stuff". Now it is off to "Maintenance". I'll be doing maintenance for the next week of cruise. This means that those of us in Division II will switch from sitting in class to working on the exterior superstructure of the ship. Chipping, painting, and cleaning have a bright side, believe it or not. I cannot wait to get this work uniform dirty. With dirty work clothes, you look a little less like a freshman!
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