At 0700 EST, the T/S Empire State was enroute to Willemstad, Curacao and located at 16 degrees and 03 minutes North Latitude and 72 degrees 43 minutes West Longitude. (300 nautical miles northhwest of Curacao) She was steering course 140 degrees true at a speed of 16 knots. The skies were partly cloudy with winds out of the southeast at 02 knots. Barometric pressure was 1015 millibars of mercury. The air temperature was 80 degrees and seawater was 78 degrees. Seas were 2 to 4 feet. Depth of water beneath the keel was 2880 fathoms.

CAPTAIN'S LOG:

Finally, a refreshing tropical shower! Just after dawn, the skies opened to splash the sleep from our eyes and rinse the pre Christmas snowstorm salts and the last vestige of metropolitan sludge from every external deck, ladderwell, and passageway. Nothing like a freshwater washdown to start the day.

Today, modern mariners are able to see a rainsquall on radar, plot the course and speed, calculate the closest point of approach, and steer into nature's own colossal car wash. Imagine the anguish of ancient sailors parched by the tropical sun and at the mercy of the winds as millions of gallons of life sustaining fresh water skirted them on the breeze. Now them were sailors!

The ship made the jump to Atlantic Standard time last evening as we set clocks ahead one hour to conform with the GMT -0400 time zone - the correct time for Willemstad, Curacao. Remember, world time is referenced to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) also known as Coordinated Universal Time, UTC, UCT, Universal Time, and Zulu Time. Confused yet? Locations west of Greenwich, England are "behind" on the clock (minus time zones). Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts (Eastern Standard) is in the 0500 time zone. Places east of Greenwich are in plus time zones.

I find enjoyment watching fledgling Cadet navigators come on deck to shoot morning stars an hour early. They are supposed to know the correct time since it is critical to fixing the ship's position and I take every advantage of them each year when clocks first shift. Of course, losing an hour of precious sleep is painful enough, but having the Captain chew on them adds to the "teaching moment". As a practical matter, we spread the hour out over all three watch sections. That way, one section doesn't loose (or gain) all the sleep.

Believe you me, however, once we are secured to the pier, any confusion about time zones will quickly evaporate because there is only one clock, and the hands are locked on (UFT), Universal Fun Time!

In the mean time, Cadet engineers have been busy fine-tuning the evaporators. These crucial machines must work well since we rely on them for every drop of fresh water that we use aboard. Although the units were producing good water, they were not producing enough water to meet design specifications. The cadets expertly diagnosed the problem as a hairline crack in a condenser casing. They completed a magnificent weld repair and the machines are operating at capacity for the first time in recent years. Our water supplies are nowhere near critical, however, everyone learns to practice water conservation and to consistently remind shipmates of their personal responsibility. Good conservation practices reduce costs (since we must buy water in port), reduces wear on the evaporators, and permits each of us to have a short, refreshing shower....daily.

Elsewhere, the engineers are plugging away at it; keeping all the wheels turning. As anyone who has ever dealt with old cars knows, something is always in need of repair and this wonderfully mature ship is no different. It seems as if everything is breaking in turn! Even the chairs in my office are not immune. I have two cadets repairing them as we speak. We have the technology, we have the inventive cadets, we can fix anything....Well, except maybe broken hearts and the crack of dawn.

See you tomorrow from Curacao.

CADET THOUGHTS OF THE DAY

Captain's Pre-Port Briefing, By Cadet 2/c Megan Kearns and 3/c Angela Abbott

As we neared Curacao, the Captain called a pre port briefing to inform us of the procedures we must follow and the situations we may encounter in port. For example: - We must travel in groups. - Respect the customs and property of the locals. - If we drink alcohol, we must do it responsibly. Knowing your limit and being always in control will keep you out of harms way.

We were also informed about transportation around the island. Rental cars will be available, as well as taxis and buses to get us where we want to go. Curacao is a small, nonviolent community with helpful people everywhere. It is mostly a tourist destination, therefore they accept US currency throughout the island. We are also reminded that what we do will reflect on the entire Academy, not just our families and ourselves, so: "Behave!".

QUESTIONS FOR FRIDAY 19 JANUARY

MATH:

Cadet Dailey must mix 6 gallons of blue paint with 5 gallons of yellow. He knows that the volume of 1 gallon is approximately 231 cubic inches. He has a cylindrical container with a radius of 7 inches and a height of 15 inches. Is his container large enough to hold all of the paint? What is the capacity?

SCIENCE:

Cadet Waters was assigned to collect benthic algae as part of her at sea project. Where would she look to find it? Where do benthic creatures live?

GEOGRAPHY:

TSES is arriving in the port of Willemsted, Curacao today. What European country most influences the city[base ']s architecture and lifestyle?

HISTORY:

Curacao was a under Spanish control for many years. In what year did the Netherlands take possession?

ANSWERS FOR THURSDAY 18 JANUARY

MATH:

A = 3.14 X r2 A = 3.14 X 2 X 2 A = 12.56 square miles of ocean surface.

SCIENCE:

Thermocline

GEOGRAPHY:

Hispaniola is comprised of two countries, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

HISTORY:

The Bahamas gained Independence from England in 1973.