The Training Ship Empire State is moored in Willemstad, Curacao, taking various services from the pier. The weather continues to be impressive. The temperature is a pleasant 79 degrees Fahrenheit, skies are mostly clear, winds are from the East at 17 knots. Relative humidity is 74%. AND HERE WE SIT!

CAPTAIN'S LOG

Going to sea is, and has always been, an emotional experience. Since long before the days of sail, departure has meant leaving someone behind. In earlier times, even the routine excursion to sea meant being in harms way. Then, imagine saying good-bye to sail into the unforgiving North Atlantic Ocean in the winter, or into the uncertainty of tropical seas during hurricane season, or to steam off to the perils of war. Today, modern technology makes naturally induced maritime disasters rare, however, the ocean floor throughout the world is littered with the lifeless hulks of countless ships and treasures worth inestimable fortunes snatched ruthlessly from the hands of the unfortunate and unwise alike. The overwhelming supremacy of the open sea has spawned enough genuine history and intriguing lore so that no sane person takes in the lines without pause.

Yes, setting sail is emotional and one response that sailors show is "Seaman's Inertia". When at sea, they prefer to remain at sea. When in port, they prefer to remain in port. The more experience one gains, the more difficult this inertia is to overcome. Last night I watched seasoned crewmembers from the nearby passenger ship wait until the brow was lifting to rush aboard. They took every minute of shore leave, waiting until the last moment to call loved ones, squeezing in one last moment on land. One sailor moved quietly to pier's end for a moment alone. Everyone develops ways to deal with this "inertia" and our cadets are no different. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint, inertia has us by the throat and we must remain in Curacao for longer than planned.

The #2 ship service turbogenerator (SSTG) has been acting up and has defied solution. Although we have other ways to make electricity, the SSTG sets are important pieces of equipment and I decided it prudent to remain in port to finish the repair. Our hard working engineers are taking that decision very personally. They feel as if they have failed their shipmates. Many willing hands and minds have worked very hard to diagnose and repair a malfunctioning overspeed mechanism on that unit since shortly before we arrived. Motivated by the desire to meet the sailing date/time, they attacked the problem with vigor, but despite their professional efforts, successful repairs eluded them. To say that they are disappointed is a gross understatement and I feel badly for them. They set the bar high and tried to ignore the real need for spare parts. After three days of backbreaking work, we are face to face with reality. Here we sit... broken! Spare parts for a Grand Old Lady like Empire State take time to find and more time to mail. Those factors are obviously beyond the control of anyone aboard...just don't try to convince the Cadet Engineers ot that today.

So, while those critical repair parts make their way from somewhere, the rest of the world continues turning. Consequently, we will make believe we are underway. This morning, despite our position fixed to the dock, "at sea watches" were set and classes have begun. We eat, sleep, and work just like at sea. Those working below decks will forget where they are..for a time. Later, however, when the work ends and night comes, they will stroll the quiet topside decks and hear the unmistakable call of the beach. They will recall the taste of spicy food, and remember the faces of new friends, all just over there- just beyond reach- somewhere ashore. That is "inertia". Hoping that we do not sail, but knowing that we must because to forgo the sad feeling of departure is to forgo the excitement of arrival.

See you tomorrow from the open sea...Inertia permitting.

P.S. Cadet navi-guessers are feverously reworking voyage plans to account for this unexpected delay. I have it from high sources that it will not effect our planned arrival in Costa Rica...NOT JUST YET. Stay tuned.

QUESTIONS FOR TUESDAY 23 JANUARY

MATH:

The dimensions of a shipboard freezer are 20ft. Length x 20 ft. Width x 8ft Height. Frozen French Fries arrived in boxes with dimensions of 2ft.L x 2ft.W x 2ft. H. Cadets stored them in even rows 4 boxes high, 5 deep, and 5 wide. How many boxes of fries arrived? How many more boxes of the same size will fit in the freezer?

SCIENCE:

Many islands in and around the Caribbean were formed by molten rock from the earth's interior. What is this molten rock called?

GEOGRAPHY:

Costa Rica, Curacao, and St. John are located in the same climate zone. What zone is it? What parallels of latitude bound this zone north and south?

HISTORY:

From what country did Costa Rica gain Independence in the year 1821?

ANSWERS FOR MONDAY 22 JANUARY

MATH:

A2 + B2 = C2

(4 X 4) + (8 X 8) = SQUARE ROOT OF 80

C = 8.94 feet or 8 ft.&11 in.

SCIENCE:

The four major layer of the earth are the inner core, the outer core, the mantle, and the crust.

GEOGRAPHY:

Nicaragua borders Costa Rica to the North and Panama to the south. The Pacific Ocean is to the west.

HISTORY:

The United States transferred the Canal to Panama on 31 December 1999.